North Dakota companies to seek Cuban commodity contracts

While all the spineless 2004 Dem prez contenders ignore the majority and pander to the tiny pro-embargo minority thankfully the rest of the country has the cojones to defy the Bush Doctrine:

N.D. companies to seek Cuban commodity contracts
By ANDREA DOMASKIN, Associated Press Writer

A group of North Dakota companies hopes to return from Cuba later this month with deals to sell more of the state's food products there.

"We're hoping to come back with contracts, or at least some intent on their part to buy," said Dave Morken of Unity Seed Co., in Casselton, a member of the delegation.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson will lead representatives from nine agriculture companies, including the North Dakota Mill and Elevator, through three days of meetings with Cuban officials beginning Dec. 14. A private consultant also will make the trip.

The delegation will join representatives from other states, including Minnesota.

The Cuban government intends to buy $80 million in food commodities and food products in the first quarter of next year and is interested in North Dakota products such as dry edible beans, dry peas, lentils, semolina, spring wheat flour and soybeans, Johnson said.

Congress passed a law in 2000 allowing the sale of American farm goods to Cuba. In the past 18 months, Cubans have purchased $7.4 million of North Dakota commodities and food products, Johnson said.

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http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2003/12/06/news/state/sta04.txt