(posted Nov. 26, 3:30 p.m.)- On Wednesday Nov. 28, a U.S. trade mission comprised of six major U.S. companies will visit Nicaragua to study the country’s potential as a supplier of fruits, vegetables and seafood under the terms of the U.S.-Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

The U.S. trade mission visiting Nicaragua this week is interested in exporting local watermelons, among other agricultural products (photo/ Tim Rogers)

With the support of USAID, the Nicaraguan Association of Producers and Exporters (APEN), and official investment-promotion agency ProNicaragua, the U.S. trade mission will visit local suppliers to learn about the possibilities of buying Nicaraguan agricultural products such as watermelons, plantains, tubers and farm-grown shrimp, according to a release from ProNicaragua.

It will be the first U.S. trade mission to visit Nicaragua this year.

The group will include representatives from Walmart Global Food Sourcing Centroamérica, Bagley Produce, Farm Fresh Market, Anthony Marano Company, Cardenas & Stephen, L.L.P. Legal Translator and Total Quality Logistics.

Since CAFTA took effect more than six years ago, Nicaragua’s exports to the United States have nearly doubled, from $375 million in 2007 to $721 million in 2011, according to government statistics.

Email