2012 IFB Market Study Tour to Cuba

Cuba _y Illinois Farm Bureau plans to lead a commercial marketing, sales, sales servicing, and trade delegation to Cuba June 27 - July, 2012.

Because personal and commercial travel to Cuba is facilitated by the U.S. Department of State, Illinois Farm Bureau applied for a commercial license this week in order to lead the delegation to Cuba. Formal approval of the travel license is not expected before mid to late February.

Due to the commercial nature of the travel license, the focus of the trip will be on farmers representing the products that they are interested in selling to Cuba. Products represented by farmers on the trip will include: live animals, corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, pork, beef, fresh water shrimp, eggs, milk, dairy products, and vegetables.

Eighteen Illinois farmers will participate in the delegation, including President Philip Nelson and IAA District 14 Director Steve Hosselton.

The sixteen at-large producers named to the trip include: Joe Bierman, Jasper; Richard Gates, White; Kevin Green, Vermilion; Robert Inman, Pulaski; Gerry Kopping, Cook; Tom Jennings, Sangamon, Glenn Leighty, Lawrence; Thomas Marten, Montgomery; Keith Mussman, Kankakee; Hugh Scates, Gallatin; Doug Scheider, Stephenson; Grant Strom, Knox; Jamie Walter, DeKalb; Kent Warren, Clay; Grover Webb, Pope; and Joe Zumwalt, Hancock. IAA Director David Serven will serve as the Board alternate. See below for biography on each participant.

Additional information on participants and on the trip (including more about the products our participants will represent and their potential in the Cuban market) will be posted in the coming weeks.