Secretary Perdue testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

Jul 22, 2019
Fruit commodity groups get millions for trade promotion

The USDA recently awarded no less than $100 million for trade promotion meant to help U.S. agricultural interests including fruit commodity groups identify and access new export markets.

The effort is one part of an effort to support growers hurt by tariffs in worsening trade relations with other countries, especially China. President Trump in May authorized the USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs to support farmers.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a press release July 19 that the $100 million would be distributed through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP).

The 48 recipients are among the cooperator organizations that applied for $200 million in ATP funds in 2018 that were awarded earlier this year. As part of a new round of support for farmers impacted by unjustified retaliation and trade disruption, those groups had the opportunity to be considered for additional support for their work to boost exports for U.S. agriculture, food, fish, and forestry products.

A full list of the funded organizations is available on the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service website. Here are some of the fruit organizations, specifically:

Agricultural Trade Promotion Program

Participant

January 2019

July 2019

Total 

California Cherry Marketing and Research Board $394,440 $300,000 $694,440
California Fresh Fruit Association $267,565 $262,435 $530,000
California Pear Advisory Board $140,690 $0 $140,690
California Prune Board $1,122,195 $1,350,000 $2,472,195
California Strawberry Commission $577,140 $407,000 $984,140
California Table Grape Commission $2,856,830 $3,100,000 $5,956,830
Cranberry Marketing Committee $1,139,450 $2,000,000 $3,139,450
National Watermelon Promotion Board $50,000 $0 $50,000
New York Wine and Grape Foundation $371,000 $0 $371,000
Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition $2,165,000 $1,262,000 $3,427,000
Pear Bureau Northwest $564,170 $1,540,830 $2,105,000
U.S. Apple Export Council $196,515 $5,485 $202,000
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council $259,953 $350,000 $609,953
Washington Apple Commission $8,457,600 $1,500,000 $9,957,600
Washington State Fruit Commission $709,203 $456,297 $1,165,500
Wine Institute $9,789,190 $6,200,000 $15,989,190

Above, U.S Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue
Photo: Tom Witham/USDA

 




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