Illinois Farm Bureau mission planned to Cuba

Brownfield/ By Julie Harker 

A delegation of Illinois Farm Bureau members and staff is heading to Cuba at the end of this month on a trade mission to increase export opportunities and help promote the resumption of normal trading relations with Cuba.

Jamie Walter, a Dekalb County corn and soybean grower, tells Brownfield that Cuba imports 60 to 80% of its foodstuffs and these days it’s closer to 60-percent.

“The U.S. share of that has been declining,” Walter tells Brownfield, “Our brethren in Brazil have been taking advantage of the political climate and have been increasing their exports and investments in infrastructure into Cuba – and – we’re trying to make sure that we still have some opportunities there before those opportunities slip away.”

Walter says while Brazil is investing heavily in Cuba’s infrastructure, the U.S. will always have the advantage of proximity, “Products that we are able to send down through the Gulf channel or even containerized through the Port of Miami have a much – an easier time logistically of getting there at a much cheaper cost than coming from destinations as far south as Brazil.”

Walter says all segments of Illinois agriculture are being represented on this trip. The delegation will meet with the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture, port authorities in Havana and the U.S. Cuban Interests section, as well as tour farms in Cuba. The trip is from June 28th through July 2nd.