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September 26, 2002
Ventura slams Cuba embargo
Thu Sep 26, 6:36 Am Et . By Jim Ragsdale, Pioneer Press
HAVANA — Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura arrived in Havana on a steamy
Wednesday afternoon and immediately pressed the case for wider trade
relationships with the long-embargoed island.
Wearing his Navy SEALs hat and shirt on the patio of the Nacional Hotel,
Ventura, who is in Cuba to promote trade at a historic agricultural products
exhibition, said increased contact between the two nations will help bring about
change in Cuba.
"The best way to change is to have a relationship," said Ventura,
holding one of his favored Dominican cigars. "When you're 51 years old, you
like friends rather than enemies."
Full story at St. Paul Pioneer Press
U.S. food show in Cuba could lead to more commerce with communist island
_ on a cash basis
Thu Sep 26, 4:50 Am Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and hundreds more Americans arrived
here on the eve of a mammoth U.S. agricultural show with the aim of whetting
communist Cuba's appetite for more U.S. food.
Ventura was set to help open the show Thursday morning. President Fidel
Castro, who has said he will visit during the exhibition's four-day run, was
also likely to appear.
The four-day U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition brings 288 exhibitors,
showing off everything from livestock to Juicy Fruit chewing gum, Milky Way bars
and Pedigree dog food. Many of the participants are interested in signing
contracts with Cuba for additional sales of American products.
America's top diplomat to Cuba said that's fine, as long as they are on a
cash basis — not through financing.
"I think it's great to sell eggs for cash, but let's not leave U.S.
taxpayers with a big giant goose egg," James Cason, the new chief of the
U.S. Interests Section, told reporters Wednesday night after meeting with some
of the American exhibitors.
"This is a Jurassic Park economy and it's no great market for the
United States," Cason said, reading a prepared statement in the lobby of a
major Havana hotel. He estimated the communist-run island's current foreign debt
at $11 billion and "we don't want to be in that queue."
A U.S. law that took effect in 2000 allows for direct commercial sales of
American food and other agricultural products to Cuba on a cash basis — an
exception to the 40-year trade embargo against the island.
Cuban officials hope the event helps influence U.S. debate on ending four
decades of trade sanctions against their country. Cuban officials say they
intend to keep buying American food with cash, but could buy even more if they
could get U.S. financing for those deals.
Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import concern Alimport, has said he
expects the show to produce "a significant number" of contracts to buy
more U.S. food and agricultural products.
Since November, when Cuba began taking advantage of the U.S. law, it has
purchased more than $140 million worth of American food, including rice, wheat,
beans, peas, pork lard, apples, and some brand name packaged products.
U.S. lawmakers have been fiercely debating whether to ease the embargo and
rules barring most Americans from traveling to Cuba. Some have also made
attempts — thus far unsuccessful — to allow for American financing of
food sales.
President George W. Bush, who counts on political support from anti-Castro
Cuban exiles in south Florida, says he will not allow any easing of restrictions
until Cuba embraces democratic and economic reforms.
But a growing number of lawmakers from farm states, including many
Republicans, support legislative efforts to ease or eliminate the restrictions.
The exhibitors from 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
manufacture or distribute more than 3,000 different products. Florida has the
most exhibitors with 32, followed by Illinois with 21. Representatives Sonny
Callahan and Terry Everett of Alabama, and Harold Rogers of Kentucky, all
Republicans, are also attending.
Ventura came to Cuba despite efforts by the State Department and Florida
Gov. Jeb Bush to dissuade him.
"The great thing about the United States of America is that you don't
always have to agree," said Ventura, a political independent and former
professional wrestler.
Americans to Push U.S. Food in Cuba
Thu Sep 26, 3:54 Am Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA (AP) - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and hundreds more Americans
arrived here on the eve of a mammoth U.S. agricultural show with the aim of
whetting communist Cuba's appetite for more U.S. food.
Ventura was set to help open the show Thursday morning. President Fidel, who
has said he will visit during the exhibition's four-day run, was also likely to
appear.
The four-day U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition brings 288 exhibitors,
showing off everything from livestock to Juicy Fruit chewing gum, Milky Way bars
and Pedigree dog food. Many of the participants are interested in signing
contracts with Cuba for additional sales of American products.
America's top diplomat to Cuba said that's fine, as long as they are on a
cash basis — not through financing.
"I think it's great to sell eggs for cash, but let's not leave U.S.
taxpayers with a big giant goose egg," James Cason, the new chief of the
U.S. Interests Section, told reporters Wednesday night after meeting with some
of the American exhibitors.
"This is a Jurassic Park economy and it's no great market for the
United States," Cason said, reading a prepared statement in the lobby of a
major Havana hotel. He estimated the communist-run island's current foreign debt
at $11 billion and "we don't want to be in that queue."
A U.S. law that took effect in 2000 allows for direct commercial sales of
American food and other agricultural products to Cuba on a cash basis — an
exception to the 40-year trade embargo against the island.
Cuban officials hope the event helps influence U.S. debate on ending four
decades of trade sanctions against their country. Cuban officials say they
intend to keep buying American food with cash, but could buy even more if they
could get U.S. financing for those deals.
Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import concern Alimport, has said he
expects the show to produce "a significant number" of contracts to buy
more U.S. food and agricultural products.
Since November, when Cuba began taking advantage of the U.S. law, it has
purchased more than $140 million worth of American food, including rice, wheat,
beans, peas, pork lard, apples, and some brand name packaged products.
U.S. lawmakers have been fiercely debating whether to ease the embargo and
rules barring most Americans from traveling to Cuba. Some have also made
attempts — thus far unsuccessful — to allow for American financing of
food sales.
President Bush, who counts on political support from Cuban exiles in south
Florida, says he will not allow any easing of restrictions until Cuba embraces
democratic and economic reforms.
But a growing number of lawmakers from farm states, including many
Republicans, support legislative efforts to ease or eliminate the restrictions.
The exhibitors from 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
manufacture or distribute more than 3,000 different products. Florida has the
most exhibitors with 32, followed by Illinois with 21. Representatives Sonny
Callahan and Terry Everett of Alabama, and Harold Rogers of Kentucky, all
Republicans, are also attending.
Ventura came to Cuba despite efforts by the State Department and Florida
Gov. Jeb Bush to dissuade him.
"The great thing about the United States of America is that you don't
always have to agree," Ventura said.
N.Y. to Export Apples to Cuba
Thu Sep 26, 1:44 Am Et. By Damita Chambers, Associated
Press Writer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - After a 40-year trade embargo, New York apple growers
can sell their crops to Cuba.
"There are 13 million consumers in Cuba that have never tasted a great
apple like ours before," said Peter Gregg, New York Apple Association
spokesman. "We hope Cuba will quickly become one of our leading export
destinations."
In courting the Cuban market, New York apple growers invited inspectors to
tour orchards and processors in western New York to observe their practices. In
June, the Cuban government gave New York clearance to sell fresh apples.
With many orchards producing the smallest crop in 29 years because of a late
frost, apple growers are "chomping at the bit to take advantage of that,"
Gregg said. The New York Agricultural Statistics Service expects the state's 674
apple growers to produce 720 million pounds, or 28 percent less than last year.
"We've had several orchards that were completely wiped out," he said.
Apple growers will get to show off their crops at a five-day federally
sanctioned U.S. Food and Agriculture Exhibition held in Cuba beginning Thursday.
The United States ended trade with Cuba in 1960.
The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 allows U.S.
companies to sell products to Cuba on a cash-only basis.
New York apple farmers are unsure of how the Cuban market will affect the
industry.
"I don't know if anybody in the industry really knows at this point,"
said Dean Decker, vice president of the apple shipper, United Apple Sales. "I'm
not real clear what kind of fruit they're going to use (and) the quality of
fruit they're going to use."
Cuba has confirmed its intention to buy about 650,000 tons of U.S.
agricultural products worth about $102 million, according to the New York-based
U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc.
"We hope Cuba will quickly become one of our leading export
destinations," Gregg said. New York currently exports nearly 1 million
bushels of apples annually, he said.
It ties Michigan as the nation's second largest apple-producing state with
control of 10 percent of the national crop. Washington state is the largest
producer, accounting for 50 percent of the national crop.
Washington state is the only other state that has clearance from Cuba to
sell its apples, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service of U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
On the Net:
http://www.nyapplecountry.com
Americans begin arriving, setting up for U.S. agribusiness show in Cuba
Wed Sep 25, 6:37 Pm Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA - Eleven-year-old Seth Kaehler and his 13-year-old brother Cliff
brushed the mahogany coat of a bull named Minnesota Red, hoping he'll be among
the first American animals sold to Cuba in 40 years of U.S. trade sanctions
against the island.
The boys, fifth-generation farmers from St. Charles, Minn., arrived in Cuba
over the weekend with their parents. Their bull and their other animals were
expected to be major attractions at the U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition
beginning Thursday.
"We don't speak enough Spanish and they don't speak that much English,
but it hasn't been that much of a problem," said the boys' father, Ralph
Kaehler, of Kaehler's Homedale Farms.
Hundreds of American exhibitors are looking for more contracts to sell food
to Cuba. Cuban officials hope the event helps influence U.S. debate on ending
four decades of trade sanctions against their country.
Representatives for Wm. Wrigley Jr. of Chicago were setting up display cases
with Doublemint and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Next door, Master Foods
Interamerica of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was displaying Mars Co. products,
including Milky Way chocolate bars and Pedigree dog food.
The exhibitors from 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
manufacture or distribute more than 3,000 different products. Florida has the
most exhibitors with 32, followed by Illinois with 21.
Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and Cuban President Fidel Castro are scheduled
to attend the fair.
Also visiting will be three Republican U.S. Representatives: Sonny Callahan
and Terry Everett of Alabama, and Harold Rogers of Kentucky. The agriculture
departments of a dozen American states are also sending representatives, many of
them their commissioners.
Ventura dismissed efforts by the U.S. State Department and Florida Gov. Jeb
Bush to dissuade him from making the trip.
"The great thing about the United States of America is that you don't
always have to agree," Ventura said.
"Florida has the most companies here, so what's Gov. Bush's response to
that?" Ventura asked reporters after stepping off the charter flight from
Miami Wednesday afternoon. Ventura said he hoped to promote Minnesota business
during his stay.
Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import concern Alimport, has said he
expects the show will produce "a significant number" of contracts to
buy more U.S. food and agricultural products.
The trade show comes as U.S. lawmakers fiercely debate whether to retain or
ease a long-standing trade embargo and rules barring most Americans from
traveling to the communist island.
President Bush, backed by Cuban exiles in south Florida, says he will not
allow any easing of restrictions until Cuba embraces democratic and economic
reforms.
But a growing number of lawmakers from farm states, including many
Republicans, support legislative efforts to ease or eliminate the restrictions.
In an exception to the sanctions, the U.S. Congress approved a 2000 law that
allowed the first direct commercial sales of American food to Cuba in four
decades.
Tropical Storm Lili shifts westward, taking aim at Jamaica and sparing
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Thu Sep 26,10:42 Am Et . By Michael Norton, Associated
Press Writer
LES CAYES, Haiti - Haitians scrambled to buy supplies and left low-lying
areas Thursday as Tropical Storm Lili neared closer, churning its way toward the
eastern banks of Jamaica.
Lili, which was already dumping rain on the Dominican Republic, was expected
to lick the Haitian coastline later Thursday or early Friday.
The storm had taken a westward turn toward Jamaica and was expected to spare
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where it had been headed. U.S. authorities in Guantanamo
are holding 600 detainees accused of links to the fallen Taliban regime of
Afghanistan or al-Qaida terrorist network.
"The storm is disorganized and could be downgraded to a tropical wave
later Thursday, but the eastern side of the system will still bring a lot of
rain to Haiti and the Dominican Republic," said Eric Blake, a meteorologist
at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Haitians scrambled to buy food and water. Some moved to higher ground. In
1994, Tropical Storm Gordon killed at least 829 Haitians.
"I'm now in the hands of God," said Lisio Jacques, a 25-year-old
farmer and father of four in Cavaillon, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest
of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
By Saturday, Lili was expected to reach Jamaica where officials had already
issued a tropical storm warning. The southern Dominican Republic and Haiti also
issued storm warnings.
At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), Lili was about 275 miles (445 kilometers)
southwest of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital. The storm was
moving west at about 6 mph (104 kph), with maximum winds of about 40 mph (64
kph).
Lili caused at least four deaths in St. Vincent early Tuesday, when a
mudslide slammed into a home, crushing a mother and three children.
Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Kyle was upgraded to a hurricane,
the season's third. The storm, about 490 miles (790 kilometers) southeast of
Bermuda with 85 mph (137 kph) winds, was only expected to affect shipping
interests. | 
