Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Cuba remains large trading partner with North Dakota

Cuba remains large trading partner with North Dakota

Sep 14, 2003 - 23:21:39 CDT

By the Associated Press

FARGO -- Much has happened in the year since Fidel Castro met with North Dakota farmers over wine and salmon at a food trade show in Havana.

The Cuban dictator's harsh crackdown on pro-democracy dissidents has chilled the already frosty relations between the United States and its communist neighbor.

But Castro's regime keeps filling its pantries with food from U.S. suppliers. The country spent $116.6 million in agricultural goods last year, ranking it as the 50th export market.

That includes more than 10,000 tons of peas, valued at more than $1 million, 42 tons of soybeans and 450,000 pounds of pasta from North Dakota. To date, North Dakota farm and food exports to Cuba total more than $1.5 million, the North Dakota Farm Bureau said.

Minnesota farmers and processors have sold $70 million of food and agricultural exports to Cuba since trade opened in November 2001, said Kurt Markham, marketing services director for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

A year ago, delegations of farmers and agribusiness leaders from North Dakota and Minnesota were among the 750 who flocked to Havana for the first U.S. food trade show since Washington imposed an economic embargo against Cuba 42 years ago.

Castro hosted the North Dakota delegation to a gourmet luncheon meeting at his protocol compound

Plans for a second food expo in January were dashed when the Bush administration refused to grant a license, arguing that "business as usual," would send the wrong message to the Castro regime.

But growers and food processors from the region continue to work to develop ties with a market located 70 miles from Florida.

"North Dakota has a heck of a lot of products that the Cubans need," said John Mittleider, vice president for public policy for the North Dakota Farm Bureau, which organized a trade delegation and the contingent that attended last year's food show.

North Dakota firms left the expo with eight contracts that largely were intended as a "foot in the door" to begin a trade relationship and to test supply channels, said Roger Johnson, North Dakota agriculture commissioner.

Some growers and processors have made subsequent deals, including a $60,000 sale this summer of semolina, a flour used to make pasta, by the state mill.

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Comments

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Earl Nisbet wrote on Jul 13, 2006 8:24 PM:

" Dear Ms. Grantier: I was impressed with your fine article, but it left me wondering about "your Don Falconer." I am an architect who designed a house for Mr. and Mrs. Donald Falconer in Soquel, California. Don had a history here in the Santa Cruz area, and worked as Vice President for the local County Bank. I wrote a book which contains some drawings and photos of the "Falconer House," and since I have been trying to locate my old client, your article was shared with me. Do you think your Don and my Don falconer could be the same person? I will follow with a message to see part of my book containing the Falconer House, but the chapter you will see does not list the aforementioned house. Best - Earl Nisbet. "http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/01609.htm" "

Earl Nisbet wrote on Jul 13, 2006 8:12 PM:

" I am an architect who designed a house for MR. Don Falconer and his wife Eunice in Soquel, California. Could the aforementioned Don Falconer be one and the same? I just finished a book called Taliesin Reflections that has drawings and photos of the house I designe in Soquel for the Falconers. To see part of the book click on :"http:www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/01609.htm" Thank you, Earl Nisbet.California. "

Lesia wrote on Jun 2, 2006 3:46 PM:

" Our church in Thunder Bay makes pyrohy and holubci every other week, and charge $5 per-dozen for each ... which is still a bargain for homemade quality. The ladies sell 400-450 dozen of pyrohy and 250-325 dozen of holubci every other week. Thanks to them, this pays the bills and has allowed for a very nice nest-egg for the future. "

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