Posted on 07/01/2002 3:58:11 PM PDT by grimalkin
WENATCHEE - Today's the day.
Boxes of Red Delicious apples were to be loaded in Wenatchee Monday and packed off for shipment to Cuba.
It's the first Washington apples in 40 years to be shipped to the island nation led by Fidel Castro. The shipment is the result of Senator Maria Cantwell's visit to Cuba in January.
The 43-member delegation went to discuss trade and other issues, and happened to have apples, onions and wine to share with their hosts.
Agricultural leaders who met in Seattle Sunday hope those apples will be followed by cherries, pears and other crops. That could open a new market for state agricultural products in a nation long under U.S. sanctions.
Cuba is paying about $250,000 in cash for 660,000 pounds of apples. The shipment is expected to arrive in Cuba the second week of July.
BTW, how come Fidelito can get apples at 40 cents a pound in Cuba and I pay $1.39 a pound in Texas? OK, so mine don't have alar but, still.
If there's a market there, then by all means let American Farmers sell to them and cut back on subsidies.
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