After Nearing 700 Days Since Farm Bill Authorized Use Of USDA FMD/MAP Funding In Cuba, 1st Request Is Reported- For Potatoes
/According the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), no request was made in Fiscal Years 2019 or 2020 to use the Republic of Cuba provision in H.R. 2, the five-year Agriculture Improvement Act, known as the “Farm Bill” signed into law on 20 December 2018 by The Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States. No requests in the more than 700 days since the Republic of Cuba became eligible for funding. The USDA has since revised their statements.
According to Denver, Colorado-based Potatoes USA, the organization applied to the USDA for the use of MAP (Market Access Program) funding in May 2019. The amount of the request was US$60,000.00. In November 2020, 33,118 pounds (15,022 kilos or 21.04 metric tons) of potato seeds valued at US$44,760.00 were shipped to the Republic of Cuba in a container by ocean freight.
From AndNowUKnow:
Potatoes USA Sends First Shipment of U.S. Seed Potatoes to Cuba
23 December 2020
“DENVER, CO - A new fresh produce adventure recently began for the team at Potatoes USA. The company has bolstered its operations once again by sending its first seed potatoes shipment to Cuba. Ten different varieties were included in the trial, which will be headed up by the Ministry of Agriculture in Cuba. Once the trial is completed, Potatoes USA may begin the shipment of commercial U.S. seed potatoes. [Potatoes expected for harvest in March 2021.]
John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USA“The U.S. potato industry appreciates the efforts by USDA APHIS and FAS staff to secure market access for U.S. seed potatoes to Cuba,” said John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer. “This is a natural market for U.S. seed potato exporters and we look forward to continuing to work with USDA to develop and build the market. We also appreciate the cooperation of the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture in both the market access protocol and the initial trials of U.S. seed potatoes. We believe that it will be a real benefit for Cuban potato producers to have access to high quality U.S. seed potatoes.”
According to a press release, the USDA and Ministry of Agriculture signed a market access protocol for these seeds to enter Cuba. The details of the shipping requirements will be posted to the USDA APHIS PCIT export database and available on the Global Trade Regulations Database.
The process of finalizing this shipment began six years ago when Potatoes USA leaders and industry experts visited Cuba. The company received approval to utilize USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funds in Cuba for the July 2020/June 2021 marketing year.”
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