North Dakota Seed Potato deal with Cuba stalls

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson says a deal to ship seed potatoes to Cuba has stalled, in part over a language barrier.

“There is zero chance North Dakota seed potatoes will be going to Cuba this fall — the calendar just got away,” Johnson said.

Johnson said one question yet to be answered is where the potato shipments will be inspected, either in North Dakota or a sea port.

The Cuban proposal, when translated to English, says potato shipments would be inspected at a “loading port” but Johnson believes it should be “loading point.”

“We believe there is a problem with the English translation,” Johnson said. “A loading port would be next to water and a loading point would be in North Dakota.