Washington Apple Commission, California Table Grapes Commission and Pear Bureau Northwest are among the beneficiaries
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has announced additional support for the country’s farmers and producers through the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), to help expand export markets for US food and agricultural products.
Fresh produce funding recipients include the California Table Grape Commission, the Washington Apple Commission and Pear Bureau Northwest.
USDA stated that, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, starting in fiscal year 2027 it will have an additional US$285mn annually in supplemental funding to support flagship FAS market development programmes like the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program.
The AFTPP funding is described as a precursor to the funding provided under the Working Families Tax Cuts, providing important investment for USDA’s market development programmes.
“USDA’s market development programmes have a proven record of delivering for our farmers, ranchers and producers,” said under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs Luke Lindberg.
“Partnering with industry opens new doors for trade, strengthening our position in the global marketplace and advancing the Trump administration’s priority of keeping American agriculture competitive, resilient and ready to meet growing global demand.”
One of USDA’s top priorities, it said, is creating new and better market opportunities for producers.
This includes strengthening US agriculture’s presence in existing markets and opening new market opportunities by ensuring that high-quality US agricultural and food products reach all corners of the world.
”AFTPP provides the funding necessary to capitalise on the negotiated agreements with trading partners through increased market opportunities to sell the bountiful and exceptional US agricultural products produced by our millions of hardworking American farmers, ranchers and producers,” it continued.
FAS will provide funding to 55 nonprofit organisations and cooperatives through AFTPP.
In terms of fresh produce, the Washington Apple Commission has been awarded US$5mn in funding, the California Table Grape Commission US$2.2mn, and Pear Bureau Northwest US$2.1mn.
Other notable funding recipients include the National Potato Promotion Board (US$2.875mn), US Highbush Blueberry Council (US$850,000), US Apple Export Council (US$525,000), National Watermelon Promotion Board (US$300,000), California Cherry Marketing Research Board (US$300,000), California Pear Advisory Board (US$300,000), Florida Tomato Committee (US$75,000) and Sunkist Growers (US$75,000).
As part of the USDA market development programme portfolio, AFTPP is designed to help exporters leverage these market opportunities and ”ensure continuity of relationships and trust”.
”It is a complement to USDA’s other export promotion programmes and will be an important resource to our key stakeholders before the Working Families Tax Cuts funding becomes available,” USDA added.
