Produce groups get millions for trade promotion

The USDA recently awarded no less than to $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.

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