First U.S. Wheat Shipment in Four Decades Sent To Cuba

In a momentous occasion for American wheat producers, the first commercial shipload of U.S. wheat in four decades left for Cuba early in January. The shipment is the first installment of 70,000 metric tons of hard red winter wheat purchased by Cuban officials in the wake of hurricane Michelle last year.

Cuba purchased the wheat and other commodities in December, in the wake of tremendous devastation caused by the hurricane, in order to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of its people.

“This is not the first time that Cubans will be eating bread made with U.S. wheat, but the sale represents another step forward,” observed Henry Jo Von Tungeln, a wheat grower from Oklahoma who presides over two of the industry’s trade groups: U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee. Von Tungeln and others from USW went to Havana fourteen months ago as part of a continuing effort to assess Cuba’s wheat needs and prepare the way for eventual commercial sales.

The recent commercial sales follow two small humanitarian donations made by U.S. wheat groups in 1998, when they privately donated wheat that was ground into flour and provided to CARITAS, the Catholic relief organization, for bread distribution to needy Cuban families.

The president of the National Association of Wheat Growers applauded the commitment of farmers to opening the Cuban market. “A great deal of hard work from many dedicated people contributed to this shipment,” said Dusty Tallman, a wheat grower from Colorado. “U.S. wheat producers are extremely proud to play their part in this historic event.”

Wheat industry officials warn that, notwithstanding the recent purchases, current U.S. government rules and regulations on Cuba trade are extremely restrictive, and put a severe damper on future prospects unless those restrictions are eliminated.