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“Today is a historic day for Goya,” said Bob and Peter Unanue, President and Executive Vice President of Goya Foods, and grandchildren of Prudencio Unanue.  “For generations to come, this sculpture will serve not just as a reminder of our grandfather’s extraordinary life and legacy, but as an inspiration to all of us that through hard work and dedication the American dream is possible.”

In 1904, Prudencio Unanue left Spain for Puerto Rico at the age of 18.  Like many immigrants, he left behind his home and risked it all to find better opportunities and a new horizon for his life.   He met his wife Carolina in Puerto Rico, who also left Spain, and together they moved to New York City to find work and to study.  In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, they started Goya in a small storefront on Duane Street in Lower Manhattan.  Driven by the belief that there was a growing consumer market for high-quality, fresh tasting Latin foods, they began catering to local Hispanic families by distributing authentic Spanish products including olives, olive oil, and sardines.

Prudencio’s entrepreneurial spirit and marketing insight led him to create the most recognizable Latin food brand in the United States that would also become an iconic symbol and institution for the Hispanic community.  The history and story of Goya are as much about the importance of family and values, as it is about achieving the American dream and helping to cultivate the Latin culture and culinary landscape in the United States.

The sculpture, presented on 10th October, was designed and created by Maritza Hernandez, a Cuban born, Chicago-based artist and sculptor. The three-foot bronze sculpture of Prudencio Unanue sits on a four-foot granite base and is planted at the front entrance of the national headquarters of Goya Foods in Jersey City.

Source: PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE