Goya latest company to get stung by politics

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The supercharged U.S. political landscape has grown potentially more perilous for companies ahead of the 2020 presidential election as Goya, a food company with a tremendously loyal following, discovered this week.

The company that makes products used in many Hispanic cuisines, but whose following extends well outside of that range, is getting some backlash after its CEO praised President Donald Trump at a White House event.

Goya was founded in Manhattan in 1936 by Prudencio Unanue and his wife, Carolina, immigrants from Spain. The company calls itself the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.

Robert Unanue, a grandson and now Goya CEO, spoke at a Rose Garden event announcing a “Hispanic Prosperity Initiative” on Thursday.

“We are truly blessed, at the same time, to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder,” Unanue said standing at a podium beside Trump.

Almost immediately, #Boycottgoya, #Goyafoods and #Goyaway began trending on social media platforms with scorn coming seemingly from all directions, including Hollywood and Washington.

That backlash was countered online by Trump supporters, showing how any brand, whether they make clothing or, as Goya does, beans, olive oil and adobo, faces potential danger ahead of what is already a highly contentious election.

Those pushing for a boycott of Goya products cited a history of derogatory comments from Trump and harsh policies toward Hispanics, most notably, the administration's policy of separating immigrant families at the U.s.-mexico border.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez of New York said she would learn to make from scratch some of the Latin cuisine that Goya sells. Lin-manuel Miranda, writer and star of the Broadway blockbuster “Hamilton,” echoed the congresswoman.