01.17.02

Cantwell Promotes Washington State Agriculture to Fidel Castro

WASHINGTON, DC - Cuban President Fidel Castro met with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA.) and members from a University of Washington-organized delegation of over 40 women to Cuba for over three hours on Wednesday.

In the meeting with Castro, Cantwell promoted the export of Washington state peas, lentils, apples, and other agricultural products to Cuba.

"A trade relationship between Washington state and Cuba is a win-win proposition," Cantwell said. "Selling agricultural products to Cuba is common-sense policy. It provides Cubans the food they need and Washington state farmers new markets for their products."

Cantwell and the group presented Castro with Washington state agricultural products and a Major League Baseball signed by Edgar Martinez.

Tim McGreevy, Executive Director of the Washington & Idaho Pea and Lentil Commission, followed-up on Cantwell's meeting with Castro with a letter to Pedro Alvarez, Director of Cuba's ALIMPORT agency. "We look forward to working with the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture and ALIMPORT in arranging the delivery of USA peas, lentils, and garbanzos to Cuba," McGreevy wrote.

Cuba imports roughly $1 billion in agricultural products including $250 million in food products to meet the demand of visiting tourists. Industry experts predict that Cuba's market could bring substantial revenue to Washington state's agricultural producers, which lead the nation in the production of peas, lentils, apples, sweet cherries, and pears and grow many other food products not currently produced in Cuba.

For example, Cuba imports 170,000 metric tons of dried peas from Canada (U.S. total production is 260,000 metric tons) and also sells imported Canadian apples at substantially higher prices than in U.S. markets (Sources: USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council; U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc.).