Commodity checkoff funds will market US products in Cuba

Experts say American-grown foods hold a clear competitive advantage in the Cuban marketplace.
Experts say American-grown foods hold a clear competitive advantage in the Cuban marketplace. | File photo

The U.S. Department of Agriculture decided last week to allow commodity checkoff funds to be used to help market American farm products in Cuba. 

Checkoff funds are raised through direct assessment on farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses and are not taken from U.S. treasury funds.

"American-grown foods hold a clear competitive advantage in the Cuban marketplace, and the use of farmer- and rancher-generated funds to promote and market U.S. farm goods fits the checkoff mission perfectly," American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall said.

AFBF believes this will allow the two countries to increase trade.

"This announcement by USDA represents a major boost in growing the Cuban market that sits just 90 miles off our coast," Duvall said. "I want to personally thank USDA and Agriculture Secretary (Tom) Vilsack for the support shown America's farmers and ranchers in this matter."