U.S. Red Meat is Gaining Traction in Cuba

U.S. red meat is finally gaining traction in Cuba thanks in part to expansion of private sector buying. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently held a seminar for Cuban buyers and U.S. companies interested in capitalizing on this opportunity. Alicia Rodriguez, who directs new business development for Florida-based distributor American Foods International, found the USMEF seminar to be a great opportunity.

“This has been the first time that we’ve been able to have that many people in one setting in order to talk face-to-face, one-on-one, about what they’re really looking for and how we can partner with them to do additional business and sell American goods abroad.”

Caribbean representative Elizabeth Wunderlich says there’s a lot of excitement about the Cuban market.

“And we brought in an expert who has been working with exporting, but also with our government, to understand how to muddle through all the regulations.”

That expert is Paul Johnson of Focus Cuba, a consulting firm that helps U.S. companies do business in the island nation.