Cuban politics will eventually affect U.S. produce trade
Cuban politics will eventually affect U.S. produce trade
Fidel Castro's Feb. 19 resignation as president of Cuba will likely influence the face of the U.S. produce trade.
One industry source suggested that Cuban soil might create new production opportunities for Florida growers, while another source expects the inevitable exports of Cuban produce to the United States will inevitably hurt growers in Mexico and Central America.
Mayda Sotomayor came to the United States from Cuba at the age of three during the Freedom Flights allowed by Mr. Castro after the 1959 Cuban revolution. Ms. Sotomayor, who is now chief executive officer of Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, told The Produce News Feb. 19 that she expects Mr. Castro's resignation will expedite trade with Cuba.
"I don't feel that his brother [Raul Castro, who has been acting president since July 2006] or the government there will be as strong or stringent" as Fidel Castro. She said that Raul Castro "is more pragmatic, more lenient and, I think, will be more 'commercial.' "
Ms. Sotomayor added, however, that Fidel Castro would maintain a very staunch influence on Cuban policy for as long as he is alive. "My personal feeling is that he is very much in control in the background. He is not immortal, and when [he dies], I think the U.S. government will immediately start looking at potential aid to the country. Trade, I think, will be natural to help the country."
In the short run, U.S. trade with Cuba -- particularly tourism -- would only be southbound, she noted.
Ms. Sotomayor is unaware of any U.S. Department of Agriculture phytosanitary clearances on Cuban produce, and she noted that it will take time to develop such clearances. "Under [USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service], like any other country, [phytosanitary clearances] take a great deal of time."
Once phytosanitary hurdles are cleared, the first northbound Cuban produce exports likely would be citrus, tomatoes, root crops and vegetables. Cuban citrus groves will need "a lot of caretaking to get ready for export to the U.S. or even Europe," said Ms. Sotomayor. "Cuba used to export citrus to Europe, but with a variety of hurricanes, the 'Cubanita' label that was known in Europe has suffered in reputation and sales. 'Cubanita' could be known again in Europe if there is caretaking for the early fruit. Cuba produces earlier than Florida."
Ms. Sotomayor said that prior to the U.S. embargo of Cuban products, Cuba was "a huge exporter of tomatoes" to the U.S. market.
Cuba could export "all the tropical products," such as papayas, mangos and limes. "Any of the tropicals that used to grow in Homestead could grow in Cuba. And they can produce a very good grapefruit, so you're looking at all items, pretty much, which are grown in Florida."
Cuba can "easily" produce any of the row crops grown in Florida, she added. As to the influence of Cuba on Florida production, Ms. Sotomayor noted that Florida's agriculture industry has suffered from plant diseases, development and hurricanes.
"Cuba has had its fair share of hurricanes, also," she said. "I'm not sure if there is canker on the island," as there is in Florida citrus groves. "We won't know until it opens up and there is more availability" of information. "It can be a very interesting area for our experienced growers in Florida. They can expand their production close to home and still be involved" in the same commodities. Cuba can be viewed by Floridia growers "not as a competitor but as an enhancement" to production.
"I always look at the positive side," she added. "We should look at the opportunity for everyone, including our own growers."
Produce industry consultant Mario Pfaeffle, who owns Marketing & Agricultural Services in Miami, said Feb. 19, "Cuba is so close to the U.S. that the produce industry [in North America] basically would be impacted."
Mr. Pfaeffle, who is originally from Nicaragua and whose family suffered through the political turmoil there, believes that producers in Mexico and Central America will be hurt by Cuban production. Cuban produce exports are "something that are going to happen. When is hard to say, but it will happen."
Ms. Sotomayor said that Cuban exiles never imagined the Castro regime would last for so long. When her parents fled Cuba, they packed one suitcase, thinking that would be enough clothes to wait out the Castro government.
One industry source suggested that Cuban soil might create new production opportunities for Florida growers, while another source expects the inevitable exports of Cuban produce to the United States will inevitably hurt growers in Mexico and Central America.
Mayda Sotomayor came to the United States from Cuba at the age of three during the Freedom Flights allowed by Mr. Castro after the 1959 Cuban revolution. Ms. Sotomayor, who is now chief executive officer of Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, told The Produce News Feb. 19 that she expects Mr. Castro's resignation will expedite trade with Cuba.
"I don't feel that his brother [Raul Castro, who has been acting president since July 2006] or the government there will be as strong or stringent" as Fidel Castro. She said that Raul Castro "is more pragmatic, more lenient and, I think, will be more 'commercial.' "
Ms. Sotomayor added, however, that Fidel Castro would maintain a very staunch influence on Cuban policy for as long as he is alive. "My personal feeling is that he is very much in control in the background. He is not immortal, and when [he dies], I think the U.S. government will immediately start looking at potential aid to the country. Trade, I think, will be natural to help the country."
In the short run, U.S. trade with Cuba -- particularly tourism -- would only be southbound, she noted.
Ms. Sotomayor is unaware of any U.S. Department of Agriculture phytosanitary clearances on Cuban produce, and she noted that it will take time to develop such clearances. "Under [USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service], like any other country, [phytosanitary clearances] take a great deal of time."
Once phytosanitary hurdles are cleared, the first northbound Cuban produce exports likely would be citrus, tomatoes, root crops and vegetables. Cuban citrus groves will need "a lot of caretaking to get ready for export to the U.S. or even Europe," said Ms. Sotomayor. "Cuba used to export citrus to Europe, but with a variety of hurricanes, the 'Cubanita' label that was known in Europe has suffered in reputation and sales. 'Cubanita' could be known again in Europe if there is caretaking for the early fruit. Cuba produces earlier than Florida."
Ms. Sotomayor said that prior to the U.S. embargo of Cuban products, Cuba was "a huge exporter of tomatoes" to the U.S. market.
Cuba could export "all the tropical products," such as papayas, mangos and limes. "Any of the tropicals that used to grow in Homestead could grow in Cuba. And they can produce a very good grapefruit, so you're looking at all items, pretty much, which are grown in Florida."
Cuba can "easily" produce any of the row crops grown in Florida, she added. As to the influence of Cuba on Florida production, Ms. Sotomayor noted that Florida's agriculture industry has suffered from plant diseases, development and hurricanes.
"Cuba has had its fair share of hurricanes, also," she said. "I'm not sure if there is canker on the island," as there is in Florida citrus groves. "We won't know until it opens up and there is more availability" of information. "It can be a very interesting area for our experienced growers in Florida. They can expand their production close to home and still be involved" in the same commodities. Cuba can be viewed by Floridia growers "not as a competitor but as an enhancement" to production.
"I always look at the positive side," she added. "We should look at the opportunity for everyone, including our own growers."
Produce industry consultant Mario Pfaeffle, who owns Marketing & Agricultural Services in Miami, said Feb. 19, "Cuba is so close to the U.S. that the produce industry [in North America] basically would be impacted."
Mr. Pfaeffle, who is originally from Nicaragua and whose family suffered through the political turmoil there, believes that producers in Mexico and Central America will be hurt by Cuban production. Cuban produce exports are "something that are going to happen. When is hard to say, but it will happen."
Ms. Sotomayor said that Cuban exiles never imagined the Castro regime would last for so long. When her parents fled Cuba, they packed one suitcase, thinking that would be enough clothes to wait out the Castro government.
