03.14.02

Cantwell, WA Growers Meet with Cuban Government on Food Sale

Washington, D.C. - One week after U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's (D-WA) announced that Cuba will purchase peas and apples from Washington state growers, she facilitated a meeting between the Cuban government and Washington state growers to determine a framework by which suppliers would be chosen.

"Connecting growers with representatives from the Cuban government is the next step in this process," Cantwell said. The meeting included representatives from Cuba's diplomatic mission in the United States, the Cuban Interest Section, as well as the Washington and Idaho Pea and Lentil Council, the Washington State Apple Commission, the Northwest Horticultural Council, and pea and apple growers from Washington state.

All parties agreed that a competitive process would be established to choose Washington state suppliers. The Washington and Idaho Pea and Lentil Council will handle the process for its growers and the Washington State Apple Commission and the Northwest Horticultural Council has selected the Northwest Fruit Exporters to handle the process for the apple growers.

Also, today in a letter sent to Cantwell, Alimport, the Cuban import agency, after consultation with the Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Council, expects to diversify its order by adding 5,000 metric tons of lentils and reducing the size of its pea order by the same amount.

In the letter to Cantwell, Pedro Alvarez Borrego, Director of Alimport, the Cuban import agency, said, "We very much appreciate your swift assistance in regards with the potential suppliers and fully believe that the proper way to do it was going through the organizations grouping companies that could offer bids for the products and quantities requested."

In mid-January, Cantwell visited Cuba on an agricultural mission with the University of Washington's Center for Women and Democracy, during which she encouraged Cuban leaders, including President Fidel Castro and the Director of Alimport, Cuba's Import Agency, to purchase Washington state peas and lentils, and apples.