Posted on Fri, Nov. 28, 2003
Bauer sees S.C. trade potential in Cuba
Lieutenant governor considers visiting island nation
By JENNIFER TALHELM
Staff Writer
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer just got back from a trade mission to Taiwan, and now he wants to go to Cuba.
While he has no firm plans for his next trip, Bauer sees potential for South Carolina farmers and manufacturers to put their wares on Cuban shelves.
“Cuba is looking to spend money,” Bauer said. “We have vendors who can sell many things to Cuba. To me, that’s economic development.”
Bauer said he has been talking with Charleston’s Jack Maybank, whose barge this July became the first U.S.-flagged commercial vessel with an all-American crew to enter Havana’s harbor since the U.S. broke relations with Cuba in 1961. (snip/...)
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/politics/7366341.htm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kaehler's pushing window open to trade with Cuba
By ANDREA JOHNSON, Assistant Editor
Frank Kaehler of Kaehler's Homedale Farms, St. Charles, Minn., has found markets for their cattle in Cuba.
St. CHARLES, Minn. - Kaehler's Homedale Farms has become a portal to the world of Cuba.
Talk to Ralph Kaehler, who has traveled to Cuba three times, and suddenly it's possible to shake hands with Fidel Castro, to walk the streets of Cuba, and to conduct farm business with the island just 80 miles south of Florida.
Kaehler has worked hard and made decisions that have helped direct millions of dollars in upper Midwest agricultural sales to Cuba. His family has not only learned about Cuba, but they know Fidel Castro and many other Cubans, including school children. (snip)
(snip) While the Kaehlers were in Cuba for their most recent visit, Castro stopped by to visit them at 1 in the morning. He wanted to talk to them about how the livestock from the U.S. were working out, and find out how the boys were doing.
"He was talking about what impact our Norgold had on their milk production, and the kids getting milk, and how the cattle had improved production," said Kaehler. "He was running the numbers. It was like talking with one of our producers or grain elevator managers regarding their objectives and goals." (snip)
http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/articles/2003/11/28/ag_news/regional_news/news01.txt