91.  Havana says financing restrictions that accompanied the new law made its purchase of American food virtually impossible.

92.  It was dedicated to the arrival last weekend of the first direct commercial shipments of American food to Cuba in nearly four decades.

93.  It was the first time that a Cuban official had declared the communist government would consider buying more American food.

94.  It was the first time that a government official here has publicly declared that Cuba would even consider more direct commercial purchases of American food.

95.  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the United States Olympic Committee was doing its part to plug American food with a rattlesnake chili taste-off.

96.  North Carolina delegation members expressed hope for additional legislation next year that would make purchases of American food possible.

97.  Rexall, based in Boca Raton, Fla. will give Numico a strong position in the fast-growing American food supplements market, the Dutch group said.

98.  Russia plans to appeal to the United States to grant loans that will allow private Russian companies to purchase additional American food, a top official said Tuesday.

99.  Shortly after Michelle hit in early November, Cuba said it would buy American food just once to replenish its reserves.

100.  The Cuban government politely turned down the offer and announced it would make a one-time exception and directly buy American food to replenish its reserves.