So you want a piece of Arnold Schwarzenegger? He’s on sale for a Euro, or $1.48. To be exact, a company in Styria, a state in Austria, the Governor’s native country, is selling apples branded under his name (www.arnoldapple.com).

Here’s what they have to say about their apples.

Apples chosen to be an “Arnold” have to be large (85/80 mm) and flawless with a powerful color ranging from orange-red to carmine with light green to yellow streaks. Its juicy flesh has a harmonic and refreshing flavour ranging from sweet to slightly sour. An “Arnold” has to weigh between 200g and 250g (7,05 oz and 8,82 oz/ 0,4lb and 0,6lb) and contains more than twice as much Vitamin C as conventional apples, namely 26mg/100g. Just one “Arnold” supplies more than a third of an adult’s daily requirement of Vitamin C. (An Arnold a day, keeps the doctor away!)

That is simply so corny and audacious that it just might work….Have to wonder, though, if Arnold Schwarzenegger is getting paid any royalty by the company who’s behind this stunt, Frutura Vertriebs Gmbh (www.frutura.at), for the use of his name and his brand? The LA Times reports that his media rep had no idea about the apples, so I guess the official position is that the Governor has nothing to do with Arnold the apple. But could a company be so totally lacking in business ethics that they would print his image and name on their carton, and use his name as brand, without in any way paying for it?

I checked out both their corporate website and the arnoldapple.com site for any mention of association with, or permission from, the Governor. There’s nothing other than a vague statement that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supports the initiative to improve the image of the apple to a health product. I mean, if they had permission from the Governor, they would clearly have said that Arnold is associated with the product. So if the Governor knows nothing about it, the company is pulling a snowjob, and if they did have Arnold’s permission, then this could just get a tad bit more interesting in the coming days….Applegate!

Posted on February 2nd, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: California, Travel News