37 States Now Exporting Food To Cuba $57 Million In Poultry Alone

37 States Now Exporting Food To Cuba; $57 Million In Poultry Alone

September 26, 2006 3:04 p.m. EST

Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer

Havana, Cuba (AHN) - Ever since a Congressional loophole allowed for the
sale of food to Cuba, despite America's embargo of the communist island
nation, estimates say millions, if not over a billion dollars now pour
into the country through trade.

Companies from 37 separate states export food to Cuba in spite of an
overall embargo which has been in place for almost five decades.

Kirby Jones of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association, a lobbyist who
represents dozens of U.S. companies in Cuba, tells CBS "The impression
in the United States is that Cuba is stagnant - locked into some rigid
communist ideology and structure."

"Cuba is totally different, hundreds of companies do business with Cuba."

Ron Sparks, Alabama's Commissioner of Agriculture puts some real numbers
on the table, and says only three years ago Fidel Castro's Cuba bought
only $1.7 million in poultry from the U.S.

"Now they are purchasing about $57 million of poultry and 40 to 50
percent of that comes out of Alabama."

The reason behind the massive imports from a starch opponent of the
regime in Cuba? Florida Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart explains, "The
Cuban dictator has spent a considerable amount of money making
agricultural purchases to try to influence the Congress to get what he
really wants, which is mass U.S. tourism."

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004984039