ATLANTA: Trade with Cuba has been volatile over the years, Waters added. In 2014, Cuba bought about $8 million in poultry products from Georgia, nearly 40 percent less the previous year. State lawmakers are evaluating what improved relations with Cuba could mean for one of Georgia’s top exports poultry.
Already, the communist country 550 miles south of Georgia is gobbling up the state’s poultry in spite of a longstanding U.S. embargo on exports to Cuba that exempts food.In fact, Georgia exports had their strongest year yet with Cuba just last year, according to Mary Waters, deputy commissioner of international trade with the state’s Department of Economic Development.
Georgia growers sold nearly $65 million worth of two products to Cuba last year soybean oil cake, which was the bulk of the exports, and poultry.A slight increase is expected for this year, she said. But Cuba’s willingness to do business with Georgia farmers, despite the embargo and the storied tensions between the two countries, has some feeling optimistic about the possibilities.
