Texas: Commissioner Staples' Historic Trip to Cuba a Big Success

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples returned from a historic trade mission to Cuba with two contracts signed and the confidence the contacts made on this trip will payoff with big dividends down the road.

“This trade mission exceeded our expectations and was a major success. There is a huge potential for exporting Texas products to Cuba, and the mission has set the table for a long-term business relationship with our neighbors in the Caribbean,” Commissioner Staples said. “The Cuban buyers were very accommodating and made it clear they are ready to do business with Texans.”

Commissioner Staples became the first statewide elected official from Texas to visit Cuba on state business in more than 45 years. The Commissioner led a delegation of 24 Texans, including farmers, ranchers, commodity suppliers and port representatives. The group met with Cuban government officials who procure agricultural products and visited three Cuban farms and food markets to identify food needs not met by domestic production.

For additional information on the trip check out the Commissioner's Cuba blog.


Check out a slide show:

News Clips of the Cuba Trade Mission

North Texas e-News June 6th

Dallas Morning News May 31st

Dallas Morning News May 29th

Gulf Times May 29th

KVUE.com May 28th

Dallas Morning News May 28th

Amarillo Globe News May 26th

Austin American Statesman May 18th

Texas Cattle Exported to Mexico for First Time in Over Four Years

For the first time in over four years, Texas began exporting live breeding cattle to Mexico. The re-establishment of cattle trade with Mexico came just two months after Commissioner Staples engaged partners in New Mexico, Arizona and California in coordinated efforts to expedite this border re-opening.

Watch a video package of the news conference here:

GO TEXAN Restaurant Program a Success

Commissioner Staples held a press conference at the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin to spread the word to the media about the success of the GO TEXAN Restaurant Program.

The Driskill Hotel's Chef Jonathan Gelman cooked up some creative dishes using fresh foods grown in Texas.

Commissioner Celebrates USDA SilverSchool Status with Students

On May 14th, Commissioner Todd Staples went to K.E. Little Elementary in Dickinson ISD to help recognize the school’s achievement of Silver Status in the HealthierUS Challenge — an award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizing schools that are creating healthy school environments by promoting good nutrition and physical activity.

Along with the school principal and cafeteria staff, the Commissioner joined the administrator from USDA’s Southwest Regional Office and representatives from Dickinson ISD, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education to celebrate K.E. Little’s achievement as one of only 11 schools in Texas to earn this distinction.

Visit SquareMeals.org and look under “For Child Nutrition Professionals” to read more about the HealthierUS School Challenge.

Commissioner Staples Tours East Texas for BioEnergy Symposium, Caddo Lake Tour & Summer Food Service Kickoff

On June 6th, Commissioner Staples attended the Northeast Texas Woody BioEnergy Symposium in Jefferson. He then joined Rep. Brian Hughes for a tour of Caddo Lake.

Caddo Lake is the largest fresh water lake in the South. It is also one of the best examples of a bald cypress forest in the South. Learn more about Caddo Lake HERE.

On June 9th Commissioner Staples joined USDA Undersecretary Nancy Johner to kick off the Summer Food Service Program in East Texas.

News Clips

Ag Officials Help Kick-off Summer Food Program, KTBB.com. June 10

East Texas Food Bank Begins Providing Free Lunch For Children, Tyler Morning Telegraph, June 10

Food Bank Offering Meals To Local Children Who Might Not Eat Otherwise, KLTV 7 ABC, June 9

Summer Lunch Program, KYTX 19 CBS, June 9