American farm businesses show off wares at communist Cuba's int'l fair

[Judi Lynn]

American farm businesses show off wares at communist Cuba's international fair
Sunday November 02, 2003
By ANITA SNOW
Associated Press Writer
HAVANA (AP) Florida fruit juices and North Carolina turkey are among products American companies are showing off in Cuba this week as they press to sell more farm products to the communist island.

Grouped inside a stand at the International Fair of Havana, opening Sunday afternoon, the 71 American firms from 18 states and Puerto Rico hope their displays will persuade Cuban officials to buy more under an exception in a 42-year U.S. trade embargo.

``We're hoping to sell more apples, grapes, pears, and dried fruits,'' said Miguel Mauricio, president of the Florida Produce, a Tampa, Fla.-based wholesale fruit and vegetable company.

The trade fair, which runs through Nov. 9, comes as Congress is trying to open Cuba to American travelers, a move that goes against both White House efforts to enforce a travel ban and the U.S. policy of isolating the communist country. (snip/...)

http://cbsnewyork.com/international/Cuba-USAgribusiness-ai/resources_news_html

What AP's Anita Snow does NOT mention is that a lot of U.S. companies were DENIED PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO CUBA this year to participate in the very same event they attended last year.

It's good to learn that some companies made it through, regardless of the heat the _Bush people put on them all.

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STOWAWAY STORY:

Sunday, Nov 02, 2003
A little hot water frees mountain lion kittens from Montana railway track

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A railway inspector and a game warden used the age-old trick of a little hot water to free three mountain lion kittens stuck to a railway track.

Pat O'Rourke was inspecting the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe main line near Butte on Friday when he saw three kittens frozen to the tracks. One was on its back and one was stuck by its tail. The third had a paw on a railway spike and its belly on the track.

The young mountain lions apparently had crossed Silver Bow Creek in the -12-degree C air before walking onto the steel rails and getting stuck. (snip/...)

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=world_home&articleID=1449178

[Osolomia]

1. Are all farmers Republicans

or does the Democratic party just not give a damn about winning the farmers' votes?