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Californian delegation travels to Cuba and returns with hope for trade
United States
Tuesday 12 February 2008
A group of California agriculturists led by the state's secretary of agriculture, A.G. Kawamura, traveled to Cuba in January, and the produce representatives returned believing that there is opportunity to do some business.
Mr. Kawamura's group represented a wide range of commodities, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, raisins, cheese, rice and cotton. He told The Produce News that "California was following the lead of 18 other states in attempting to establish a trading relationship with Cuba."
Mr. Kawamura, who was a well-known strawberry grower-shipper before being appointed to the position of secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture in 2003, said that it was a "successful trip and an eye opener." He said that Cuba is home to 11 million people and that it is the last undeveloped market in North America.
Robert Tse, director of trade for CDFA, who accompanied the group on the trade mission, detailed Cuba's potential buying power. Mr. Kawamura said that the report showed that Cuba purchases more than US$1 billion worth of food annually from around the world. Although 60 percent of that comes from the United States, California firms accounted for only a little more than 1 percent (US$735,000) of the U.S. total.
"Cuba purchases about US$180 million worth of California-type products," Mr. Kawamura said, referring to agricultural products purchased by Cuba elsewhere that California ranchers and farmers produce. "We wanted to make sure that they knew that California could supply these products."
Mr. Kawamura believes that there is good potential to develop the Cuba market, especially as its tourism grows. He said that there are two distinct markets: high-end products for the tourist trade and staples bought by the government for the Cuban people.
"It is a marketplace that should not be ignored," he added.
The fruit and vegetable producers on the trip interviewed by The Produce News echoed Mr. Kawamura's sentiments.
Mr. Kawamura's group represented a wide range of commodities, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, raisins, cheese, rice and cotton. He told The Produce News that "California was following the lead of 18 other states in attempting to establish a trading relationship with Cuba."
Mr. Kawamura, who was a well-known strawberry grower-shipper before being appointed to the position of secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture in 2003, said that it was a "successful trip and an eye opener." He said that Cuba is home to 11 million people and that it is the last undeveloped market in North America.
Robert Tse, director of trade for CDFA, who accompanied the group on the trade mission, detailed Cuba's potential buying power. Mr. Kawamura said that the report showed that Cuba purchases more than US$1 billion worth of food annually from around the world. Although 60 percent of that comes from the United States, California firms accounted for only a little more than 1 percent (US$735,000) of the U.S. total.
"Cuba purchases about US$180 million worth of California-type products," Mr. Kawamura said, referring to agricultural products purchased by Cuba elsewhere that California ranchers and farmers produce. "We wanted to make sure that they knew that California could supply these products."
Mr. Kawamura believes that there is good potential to develop the Cuba market, especially as its tourism grows. He said that there are two distinct markets: high-end products for the tourist trade and staples bought by the government for the Cuban people.
"It is a marketplace that should not be ignored," he added.
The fruit and vegetable producers on the trip interviewed by The Produce News echoed Mr. Kawamura's sentiments.
