National Potato Council joins US Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC)

U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba

Coalition Background

Prominent members of the U.S. food and agriculture community agreed to officially form a national coalition to address liberalizing trade between the United States and Cuba. The coalition’s primary focus is on ending the embargo and allowing open trade and investment to occur.

Under current sanctions, U.S. food and agriculture companies can legally export to Cuba. However, financing restrictions limit the ability of the U.S. industry to competitively serve the market. Foreign competitors such as Canada, Brazil, the European Union and Argentina are increasingly taking market share from U.S. industry because those countries do not face the same restrictions on financing.

Cuba is a logical market for U.S. food and agriculture exports with 11 million consuming citizens only 90 miles off the coast of the United States. Normalizing trade relations between the United States and Cuba will enhance Cuban citizens’ access to affordable food while providing the U.S. farm and business community with new market access opportunities. Liberalized trade will drive growth in both countries and allow the U.S. farmers, ranchers and food companies to efficiently address Cuban citizens’ food security needs.

Coalition Purpose

The purpose of the coalition is to re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports.

Coalition Approach

We will achieve our purpose by advancing a constructive dialogue in the United States on U.S.-Cuba relations. We will actively engage to end the long-standing embargo. We will work with key stakeholders to build momentum that drives historical change. We will take public platforms and explain the moral imperative of liberalizing trade between the two countries.

Coalition Membership

Agriculture Organizations

• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Soybean Association
• American Seed Trade Association
• American Feed Industry Association
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers
• Cherry Marketing Institute
• Corn Refiners Association
• Council of State Governments
• CNFA: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture
• Dairy Farmers of America
• Global Aquaculture Alliance
• Independent Professional Seed Association
• International Dairy Foods Association
• Matter
• National Association of Wheat Growers
• National Association of Egg Farmers
• National Barley Growers Association
• National Black Growers Council
• National Chicken Council
• National Corn Growers Association
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
• National Farmers Union
• National Foreign Trade Council
• National Grain and Feed Association
• National Milk Producers Federation
• National Oilseed Processors Association
• National Sorghum Producers
• National Turkey Federation
• North American Export Grain Association
• North American Meat Institute
• Rural & Agricultural Council of America
• Soyfoods Association of North America
• US Canola Association
• US Cattlemen’s Association
• US Dairy Export Council
• US Dry Bean Council
• US Grains Council
• US Soybean Export Council
• US Wheat Associates
• US Rice Producers Association
• USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council
• USA Rice Federation
• Agribusiness Council of Indiana
• Arkansas Rice Growers Association
• Arkansas Farm Bureau
• Arkansas Rice Growers Association
• California Rice Producers
• Illinois Corn Growers Association
• Illinois Cuba Working Group
• Illinois Soybean Growers
• Illinois Farm Bureau
• Indiana Farm Bureau
• Indiana Corn Growers Association
• Indiana Soybean Alliance
• Indiana Corn Marketing Council
• Iowa Farm Bureau
• Kansas Wheat
• Food Export Association of the Midwest USA
• Food Export – USA Northeast
• Louisiana Rice Council
• Michigan Apple Association
• Michigan Bean Shippers
• Michigan Bean Commission
• Michigan Milk Producers Association
• Michigan Corn Growers Association
• Michigan Soybean Association
• Michigan Potato Industry Commission
• Missouri Corn Growers Association
• Missouri Soybean Association
• Missouri Department of Economic Development
• Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Missouri Rice Council
• Missouri Forest Products Association
• Missouri Farm Bureau
• Mississippi Rice Council
• Ohio Farm Bureau
• National Potato Council
• Texas Farm Bureau
• University of Missouri-Fisher Delta Research Center
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Alcorn State University

Agriculture Corporations

• ADM
• Advanced Drainage Systems
• AGCO
• Bunge
• Butterball
• Cargill, Incorporated
• Chicago Foods International
• Campbell Farms
• Clark AG Company
• CoBank
• Franklin Electric
• GreenStone Farm Credit Services
• Hampton Alternative Energy & Feedlot
• Hover Farms
• Intertek Agriculture Services
• Kaehler Agriculture Enterprises
• Kerley Nutritional Consulting
• Louis Dreyfus Company
• Missouri BioZyme, Inc
• Missouri Burnett Farms
• Martin Rice Company
• Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, Inc
• Net Worth Feeds & Feeding
• Orrick Farm Services
• Sandy Ridge Cotton Company
• Smithfield Foods
• South Louisiana Rail Facility
• Sun-Maid Growers of California
• St. James Winery
• Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
• Thomas E. Jennings and Associates, Inc.
• Turkey Knob Growers
• TRC Trading Group
• US Wellness Meats
• US Cava Exports