Wednesday, January 16, 2008
(01-16) 13:20 PST SACRAMENTO, (AP) --
California agriculture officials will head to Cuba this month in a bid
to sell more farm products to the Cuban government.
California exported about $735,000 worth of commodities to Cuba in 2006.
The state Department of Food and Agriculture estimates that Cuba imports
$180 million worth of products that could be supplied by California
farmers and ranchers.
The Jan. 21-24 mission will be led by California Food and Agriculture
Secretary A.G. Kawamura.
He will be joined by representatives of the California Farm Bureau
Federation and 10 companies, including those that produce cheese, nuts,
figs and other products.
Federal law changed in 2000 to allow such agricultural trade missions.
State agriculture spokesman Steve Lyle says U.S. farmers can export to
Cuba, but the federal government prohibits Cuban imports. That rules out
a reciprocal agreement to bring Cuban products to California.
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