 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Black farmers to sell to Cuba©Associated PressJanuary 30, 2003 WASHINGTON -- The National Black Farmers Association is working on a deal to sell Cuba $20-million in corn, soybeans, rice, wheat and chicken this spring. John Boyd, head of the group, said Wednesday that more than 10,000 black farmers would benefit from the agreement with Fidel Castro. "This could be really good for the black farmers because it's a steady flowing business where we, the NBFA, would be able to get a contract directly with the farmers themselves and get them a fair price for their crops," said Boyd, who met Castro in November to begin arrangements. Officials with the Agriculture Department and U.S. trade representative's office said they were not involved in the sale. Cuba has made several agreements with U.S. corn growers and other farm organizations for agricultural products since the United States lifted an embargo on food sales in 2000. However, the arrangement with black farmers would mark the first time Castro forged a sale with a particular ethnic group, said John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. Boyd said he and other black farmers need new trade opportunities to survive.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
