John Deere "green" could soon start making an appearance in farm fields in Cuba. Last week, the company announced an agreement to sell tractors to the Cuban government.
Deere spokesman Ken Golden says shipments will begin later this month.
"This equipment has to be tested and appraised by the Cuban agricultural ministry to insure that it will work for their needs and their conditions. If they agree that the equipment would be appropriate for Cuba, then there will be shipments over the next four years."
Golden says most of the tractors will be from the 5,000 series, now made at a plant in Augusta, Georgia. But there'll also be a small number of the 7,000 series, made in Waterloo, Iowa.
"Today Cuba imports about 60 to 80 per cent of its food. And improvements in the agriculture sector would help improve the availability and affordability of food for the Cuban population."
John Deere is returning to Cuba after an absence of more than 50 years - it first began selling its products there in the late 1800's through the early 1960's.
Golden says the company will sell several hundred tractors, over the next four years, but the cost of the contract has not been disclosed.
