Unió de Pagesos de Mallorca calls it a "disgrace" that Antoni Costa recommends foreign wine at Christmas

PalmUnió de Pagesos de Mallorca (Mallorca Farmers' Union) has expressed its "deep disappointment and outrage" in a statement regarding the recent remarks made by the Vice President of the Balearic Government and Minister of Economy, Antoni Costa. In an interview given this Tuesday, Costa said that "the wine chosen for these holidays would be a Ribera del Duero, blatantly ignoring the excellent wine production of our islands," according to the farmers' union. Unió de Pagesos considers it "unacceptable that the highest-ranking official in the community's economy turns his back on the local primary sector at the time of peak consumption of the year." Furthermore, the union points out that the Balearic wine sector "is a benchmark of quality with Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications that receive international acclaim." Therefore, the farmers' union insisted: "Recommending products from elsewhere from a public institution is not only a communication blunder, but a direct attack on food sovereignty and the sustainability of our landscape."

In response to Costa's appointment, Joan Gaià, coordinator of Unió de Pagesos (Farmers' Union), stated that "it is a lack of respect for the hundreds of families who work the land in Formentera, Ibiza, Menorca, and Mallorca." He added that "the vice president seems to forget that his responsibility is to protect and promote our own economic fabric" and asserted that "if a French minister recommended a foreign wine at Christmas, he should resign the next day." Therefore, Gaià emphasized that "a public official in the Balearic Islands should be the primary ambassador for local products."

"The country's wine producers, through their taxes, contribute to paying Mr. Costa's vice-presidential salary, and with statements and attitudes like these, he demonstrates that he does not deserve it. We hope that Santa Claus or the Three Kings bring him the good taste and sensitivity necessary to appreciate the great work of our producers," he added.

For all these reasons, Unió de Pagesos has asked the Government for "a correction and a real commitment, beyond photo ops, to locally sourced products." The farmers' union also took the opportunity to invite everyone to fill their tables with wines from our region: "The best support we can give to our farmers."

Costa corrects himself and apologizes

Following complaints and criticism from Unió de Pagesos, the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy, Antoni Costa, has made a post on social media where he acknowledges that he has made a mistake and that when one makes a mistake, "one corrects oneself and apologizes."

The post shows three bottles of wine in a single image, all local products from the Balearic Islands, accompanied by the message: "These will be the wines on my table tonight and tomorrow at lunchtime." In this way, Costa attempts to end the controversy with Unió de Pagesos and acknowledges his mistake.