Colorado farmers and ranchers look to Cuban market

Colorado farmers and ranchers look to Cuban market
Colorado farmers and ranchers look to soon-to-open Cuban market with
hope and hesitation

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- Colorado farmers and ranchers are hoping to cash
in on Cuban markets after the Obama administration relaxed some U.S.
trade embargoes, but they say it won't be easy.

Joe Schuele, spokesman for the U.S. Meat Export Federation in Denver,
said Cuban consumers will need to earn more money before Colorado meat
producers can make inroads in the Cuban markets.

Bill Hammerich, CEO of Colorado Livestock Association in Greeley, said
politics will also play a role.

"We obviously are supporters of free and fair trade; and as long as
there aren't political implications, human rights issues and those kinds
of things, we would be in full support of opening it up, at least within
the limitations that are currently in place," he said.

Larry Lande, owner of Northern Feed and Bean in Lucerne, said there are
markets for Colorado's pinto bean growers on the largely black
bean-dominated market.

The presidential announcement on restoring diplomatic relations has
sparked hope that one day Cuba could provide another robust market for
Weld County beans in Latin America, alongside the Dominican Republic and
Mexico, Lande said.

"It's not going to happen overnight. It will take a little time, but I
think it's going to lead to a possible market again for beans, and it's
a good-sized market," he said.

Tom Lipetzky, director of marketing programs and strategic initiatives
for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, said Colorado's piece of the
Cuban pie is minimal to none, in large part because of decisions made by
Alimport, the Cuban trade body that dictates which imports may enter the
country.

Agricultural and medical exports to Cuba have been permitted to some
extent since 2000, but political and financial barriers have persisted
in preventing stronger trade relations with the Caribbean nation, the
Greeley Tribune reported (http://tinyurl.com/kw7t7w7).

While Colorado produces many products that could be of interest to Cuba,
particularly low-cost grains, Colorado has not established the same
relations with Cuba or favor with Alimport as many other states have.

___

Information from: The Tribune of Greeley, Co, http://greeleytribune.com

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