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North Dakota Wants Cubans to Have its Papas

08:50 H | Topics: Cuba - Politics

Despite a trade embargo against Cuba, one state has its heart on figuring out a way to get one of its key crops to the island nation. That state is North Dakota and the crop is potatoes to Cuba. The biggest concern is getting the papas to Cuba without them spoiling.

"If we can begin sales of North Dakota potatoes and do it in a way that gets them down here in good shape, that would be a very successful trade mission because we've been talking about it for five years and so far it hasn't happened," said Roger Johnson, agriculture commissioner for the state.

While Washington's 45-year-old embargo forbids American tourists from visiting Cuba and forbids most trade between the two countries, direct sale of U.S. food and agricultural products began in late 2001 and continues. In fact Cuba has spent more than $2.2 billion on American food and agricultural imports, including shipping and hefty bank fees to send payments through third nations. North Dakota has sold about $30 million worth of products to the communist country, mostly peas, as well as garbanzo and lentil beans, And well I already told you about Coke.

Cuba's native spud is the sweet potato which has struggled on the island because of diseases.

Via / CBS News

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