Traveled with delegation of Minnesota commodity groups
See the Cuba trip photo gallery here>>
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture led an exploratory mission to Cuba this December 13 - 17. Members from the MDA were joined by leaders of several different commodity groups and other organizations:
- Minnesota Corn Growers Association
- Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
- Minnesota Grain and Feed Association
- Downs Food Group
- Minnesota Wheat
- Minnesota Turkey Growers Association
- Food Export Midwest
- Midwest Dairy Association (Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council)
- Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council
- Attorneys representing Minnesota firms
The delegation heard from Cuba's leading agricultural professor and researcher, an international lawyer (the only non-citizen allowed to practice law on the island), and visited other experts at farms and markets. The farms are still very reliant on manual labor and oxen assistance to work the land. The group toured a wholesale market operated by a cooperative of farmers and learned how a micro "free market" experiment could someday lead to less government involvement in agricultural production.
A supermarket tour and visits with the director of Cuba's new port project (Mariel) provided good insight into Cuba's level of preparedness to conduct trade. They are still in the process of building up enough infrastructure to support regular trade, but they're optimistic and persistent about ending the embargo and opening the channels soon.
For a more detailed view of Cuban trade statistics, please read more below.
 Now's the time to plan to join us in the Minnesota
Pavilion at SIAL Canada 2016, Canada’s premier food show dedicated to retail and food service. SIAL
takes place April 13-15, 2016 in Montreal.
Canada is the #1 export market for U.S. consumer goods
and value-added products reaching $17 billion in 2014. Under NAFTA, the majority of U.S.
agricultural products have entered Canada duty free since 1998.
Each fully-furnished 10’ x 10’ booth in the Minnesota
Pavilion includes:
- Back and side hard walls
- Wall-to-wall carpeting
- 2 wall shelves (1 meter long each)
- Fascia with company name
- Lockable demonstration counter
- 1 table & 2 chairs
- Lighting
- Outlet
- Wastebasket
- Daily booth cleaning
- WiFi service
Cost per 100 square feet of exhibit space is $3,000.
Your company may be eligible to receive 50 percent reimbursement
of international trade show costs through Food Export Association of the
Midwest’s Branded Program. Eligible costs include exhibit space,
international travel, freight costs to shows, and help with packaging changes
to meet market specifications.
To reserve your spot at SIAL Canada, contact Jeffrey
Phillips at 651-201-6220 or Jeffrey.Phillips@state.mn.us
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 U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba currently account for 16 percent
of that country’s total ag imports from the world – down from a high of 42
percent in 2009. Minnesota’s top ag export commodities to Cuba include corn,
soybeans and products, feed, poultry meat, and dairy. Total agricultural
exports from Minnesota to Cuba are estimated at $27 million a year, with corn
and soybeans accounting for nearly 90 percent of the total.
If the trade embargo ends, many of Minnesota’s major agricultural
products will be in high demand in Cuba, including:
- Corn and DDG
- Soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil
- Wheat
- Poultry meat
- Red meat
- Animal feed
- Dairy
- Processed food
For
more information on Minnesota ag exports to Cuba or other markets, please
contact Su Ye, 651-201-6384, su.ye@state.mn.us.
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 For information on a specific event, email michael.crusan@state.mn.us
Happy Holidays from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture!
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