MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Terminator Arnold” attacks Chilean fresh fruit

California's governor race has given a dramatic turn with incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger calling to “buy only Californian” and rejecting farm produce from other countries, among which Chile, a heavy exporter of fresh fruit to United States.

In an attempt to woo Californian farmers and protect the state's economy, Schwarzenegger re-election campaign television spots have the former Hollywood actor saying "I'll be back" and "Buy only Californian" with a background of fresh fruit and vegetables from the San Joaquin valley and other neighboring states.

Republican Schwarzenegger who is running against Democrat Phil Angeledis has gone as far as blasting importers of Chilean fresh produce arguing that "California's farmers must be protected" and has resuscitated the famous incident of the Chilean grapes contaminated with cyanide, which is currently under FDA investigation.

According to the United Farm-workers of America the cyanide incident was a confabulation by one of California's largest grape and wine producers.

Of the 450.000 containers of fresh fruit from South America which annually arrive in California, 150.000 come from Chile, mostly with avocado, grapes, melons, kiwi, peaches, pears, berries labeled "Product of Chile".

Chilean produce arrives in California out of season catching good prices and is recognized as top quality.

According to Chilean exporters sources in California avocados sell two for 3 US dollars; 2 kiwis for one dollar; melons 1.30 a lb; peaches 60 US cents per lb and grapes 1.65 a lb.

"Terminator" Schwarzenegger's campaign spots have caused indignation in Chile but Chilean exporters believe it should be all over following the November 7 ballot.

"What really pesters the California farmers are Mexican avocados which mature at the same time as their production", said Santiago Matta long established in United States representing Chilean exporters.

However not everybody was so lenient, Eduardo Norambuena who has been living in the US for 25 years says it's "a dirty attempt" to bemire Chile's good reputation for electoral purposes and exploiting a "sickly nationalism"

"Terminator ignores his movies have also been seen in Chile and he's insulting with a rhetoric that will only backfire. First he attacked immigrants, then (Mexican) border security and now Chilean fruit, it's our turn", said Norambuena.