Alabama ag commissioner cooks in Cuba

December 18, 2006, 7:04PM EST text size: TT
Alabama ag commissioner cooks in Cuba
MONTGOMERY, Ala.

Ron Sparks went from state agriculture commissioner to cooking
instructor during his latest multimillion-dollar trade mission to Cuba.

Sparks returned Sunday from a four-day trip to follow up on trade
commitments made to Alabama companies during the Havana Trade Expo in
November.

"Over the last several months, there have been many rumors as to the
future of Cuba because of President Castro's health," Sparks said
Monday. "We felt that it was important for us to make this trip because
we want to ensure that no matter what happens with Cuba, that Alabama
will be able to continue our trade relationship."

While in Cuba, Sparks and his staff used Alabama products to prepare a
traditional Southern meal for Cuban officials. It included fried catfish
from Southern Pride Catfish, cornbread, butter beans, green bean
casserole, coleslaw, pecan pie with ice cream, and Red Diamond sweet tea.

During the lunch, Alimport Chairman Pedro Alvarez, who determines which
products Cuba purchases from North American countries, received a
cooking lesson from Sparks.

The agriculture commissioner said the November and December trips
yielded more than $30 million in commitments for purchases from Alabama
companies or from companies representing Alabama firms.

In 2005, Cuba purchased $140 million in products from Alabama, which
represented nearly one-third of the island's entire purchases in the
United States, Sparks said in a news release.

Products slated for sale from Alabama to Cuba include peanut butter,
poultry, grains, utility poles, lumber and newsprint, Sparks said.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8M3IP5G4.htm