Cuba Opens Up to American Food

H A V A N A, Cuba, Sept. 26 -- There are free burgers and fries, American pies, dancing raisins and a wandering can of Spam. Ordinary fare for a food marketing show in the United States.

But this is Havana.

And there's nothing ordinary about the "U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition," now appearing at the Havana Convention Palace.

"I think we're in the middle of a history-making event," says seed salesman Larry White, from North Dakota. "I am pushing the United States to let us open more free markets."

White represents one the 288 U.S. businesses and trade organizations here — a Who's Who of the American food products business.

Wrigley's gum has come, giving away handfuls of Juicy Fruit and other treats unknown and unavailable to Cubans. Wrigley's used to be available here. But that was more than 40 years ago, before Fidel Castro and the communist revolution.

Now Wrigley's wants in and so do the other American companies who have come here.

"We feel like the market's going to open up here in the future," says Tony Moreno of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, "I think Cuba is potentially a great market for American products."

Trade Doors Close

Before the 1959 revolution Cuba was great market for American products. The United States was the biggest supplier of imported food here.

It makes sense, Florida is just 90 miles to the north.

But the souring of U.S.-Cuba relations that followed Castro's rise to power closed this market. The Kennedy administration imposed a trade embargo that still stands.

It was an attempt to destabilize the Castro government. It has had a huge impact on the lives of ordinary Cubans, but after 43 years Castro can lay claim to the title: world's longest-ruling leader. He also oversees a country that cannot produce enough food to feed itself.

"Enough," says Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, here leading a veritable Noah's Ark of Minnesota livestock on display at the show — two cows, two bison, two sheep, two pigs.