Posted on 03/27/2004 1:50:36 PM PST by CHACHI
HAVANA, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Wright & Company announced today that in spite of the political speeches of George W. Bush, it has reached an agreement with Alimport, Cuba's agency responsible for imports, to add 50 Florida cattle to its existing 250 head deal. The shipment of the 300 head will be the first shipment of Florida cattle to Cuba in more than 40 years of the embargo established by President Kennedy.<
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Cuba Increases Cattle Order from Florida J.P. Wright & Company adds 50 Florida cattle to existing 250-head deal with Cuba.<
> http://www.tuckerhall.com/cuba.htm<
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HAVANA, Cuba (March 26, 2004) J.P. Wright & Company announced today it has reached an agreement with Alimport, Cubas agency responsible for imports, to add 50 Florida cattle to its existing 250-head deal. The shipment of the 300 head will be the first shipment of Florida cattle to Cuba in more than 40 years.<
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Were continuing to rekindle the historic trade relationship Florida once had with Cuba , said Parke Wright, CEO of J.P. Wright & Company. Through this cattle shipment, were rebuilding a foundation for the supply and transportation of agricultural commodities and livestock from Florida to Cuba . <
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Wright originally planned to ship the 250 head in March or April, but the shipment was delayed because of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) discovered in Washington state late last year.<
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"Cuban ranchers will find our Black Angus to be strong and healthy, said Leroy Baldwin, owner of the Baldwin Angus Ranch in Ocala that will provide the additional 50 cattle. Our cattle are well-suited for the tropical climate in Cuba .<
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The Baldwin Angus Ranch has operated a closed herd since 1960, when it became Florida s first certified and accredited beef-cattle herd. The ranch has exported its cattle since 1967 to 24 different countries. This is Baldwin s first sale of cattle to Cuba .<
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The cattle trade between our two nations was a significant part of the Florida economy before the embargo, said Wright. <
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The original terms of the Florida cattle shipment were finalized between J.P. Wright & Company and Alimport in October 2003. The additional agreement was formalized between Wright and Alimport in Havana at the Boyeros Cattle Show, where Cuban ranchers and their counterparts from around the world meet annually to show the best examples of their herds.<
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The total shipment, which now includes 288 head of cattle and 12 bulls, is scheduled to depart from a port in the Tampa Bay region in the second quarter of 2004. In addition to the Baldwin Ranch, the rest of the cattle will come from Florida ranches, including 80 Brangus heifers from the Strickland Ranch in Manatee County , Florida , 80 Brafords from the Adams Ranch in Ft. Pierce , Florida , 81 Beef Masters from additional ranches around the state and 3 bulls from each breed, according to Wright.<
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Wright previously sent a total of 150 head of dairy cattle to Cuba in August 2003 through two shipments, one from the Port of Jacksonville and the other from Port Everglades. These two shipments represented the first significant shipments of cattle from Florida to Cuba in more than 40 years; these were dairy cattle from New York and Pennsylvania to meet the strategic goal of increasing dairy production across the country. A.R. Savage & Son, Inc. of Tampa , Florida , will advise J.P. Wright & Company, Inc. concerning shipping, letters of credit and payment.<
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