Cuba may be market for Ga. poultry

Cuba may be market for Ga. poultry
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 10:32 pm
Jill Nolin CNHI State Reporter

ATLANTA — State lawmakers are evaluating what improved relations with
Cuba could mean for one of Georgia's top exports — poultry. Already, the
communist country 550 miles south of Georgia is gobbling up the state's
poultry — in spite of a longstanding U.S. embargo on exports to Cuba
that exempts food.
In fact, Georgia exports had their strongest year yet with Cuba just
last year, according to Mary Waters, deputy commissioner of
international trade with the state's Department of Economic Development.
Georgia growers sold nearly $65 million worth of two products to Cuba
last year — soybean oil cake, which was the bulk of the exports, and
poultry.
Trade with Cuba has been volatile over the years, Waters added.
In 2014, Cuba bought about $8 million in poultry products from Georgia,
nearly 40 percent less than the previous year.
A slight increase is expected for this year, she said.
But Cuba's willingness to do business with Georgia farmers, despite the
embargo and the storied tensions between the two countries, has some
feeling optimistic about the possibilities.
"They can't raise enough yard birds — enough chickens — to feed their
own people," said Charles Shapiro, president of the World Affairs
Council of Atlanta, during a legislative committee hearing Tuesday.
"Bam, that's an opportunity," he added.

Source: Cuba may be market for Ga. poultry - Moultrie Observer: Local
News -
http://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/local_news/cuba-may-be-market-for-ga-poultry/article_cf84d3ae-4084-11e5-b8a2-83b3a6b87daa.html