If the Cuban embargo vanished today, the opportunity for the island country’s agricultural market to develop and produce would be enormous, one expert says.

“The Cuban climate is very good, has good resources, and an agricultural system with potential,” says William A. Messina Jr., an agricultural economist in the University of Florida’s Food and Resource Economics Department. “But the truth is that we don’t see big trends toward its development in terms of regulation.” Messina made these remarks at the recent Americas Conference sponsored by The Miami Herald.

As we know, Cuba has rejected U.S. urgings to at least begin to transition to a free market economy, something President Obama has said would give him greater confidence to do way with the nearly fifty year old trade ban.

Even still, in the spring of 2009, President Obama started to ease trade restrictions with the communist nation, lifting some bans on travel, remittances, and telecommunications. Later this summer, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton further opened the door to Cuba and the idea of normalized relations, agreeing that Cuba could rejoin the Organization of American States, “if it meets key benchmarks of democratic reform.” Cuba declined to accept.

Yet in spite of the embargo and continued tense relations, the U.S. is still the top supplier of agricultural products to Cuba. Comparatively, as Professor Messina told the U.S. International Trade Commission three years ago, Cuba’s purchases represent only a small percentage of total U.S. agricultural exports ⎯ roughly one half of one percent. “But I can assure you, if you talk to U.S. farmers who have sold to Cuba, they will be very quick to emphasize to you how important this new market is to them. Is there potential for further expanding U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba? Absolutely.”