WASHINGTON, DC - The Trump Administration announced recipients of its 2019 Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) funding, and the produce industry has emerged victorious. Late last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue revealed the Administration’s list of 57 recipients that will split $200 million in funding, 20 of which are involved with the fresh produce and/or nut industries. Familiar produce industry names such as Sunkist Growers, the California Fresh Fruit Association, and the California Table Grape Commission were all names as recipients of the federal funding.

“At USDA, we are always looking to expand existing markets or open new ones, so we are proud to make good on the third leg of the President’s promise to America’s farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. “This infusion will help us develop other markets and move us away from being dependent on one large customer for our agricultural products. This is seed money, leveraged by hundreds of millions of dollars from the private sector, that will help to increase our agricultural exports.”

All sectors of U.S. agriculture were eligible to apply for cost-share assistance under the ATP, according to a press release. Each application was evaluated for potential for export growth in the target market, direct injury from recent tariffs, and the likelihood that the proposed project or activity will have a near-term impact on agricultural exports. The USDA provided a full list of recipients and the amount of funding each will receive here. In total, fresh produce and nut interests will split nearly $30 million between them.

“We were pleased to see the large demand for participation in the program and truly got some out-of-the-box ideas that we are hopeful will expand our global footprint,” Perdue said. “We examined all applications carefully, considered our ranking criteria, and awarded the funds in order to make the best use of taxpayer dollars in growing agricultural trade.”

Below are the 20 funding recipients relevant to the fresh produce industry:

• Almond Board of California: $3,185,690
• American Pistachio Growers: $1,715,000
• California Cherry Marketing and Research Board: $394,440
• California Fresh Fruit Association: $267,565
• California Pear Advisory Board: $140,690
• California Strawberry Commission: $577,140
• California Table Grape Commission: $2,856,830
• California Walnut Commission: $1,612,440
• Cal–Pure Produce Inc.: $1,715,000
• Cranberry Marketing Committee: $1,139,450
• National Potato Promotion Board: $3,670,860
• National Watermelon Promotion Board: $50,000
• Organic Trade Association: $547,085
• Pear Bureau Northwest: $564,170
• Sunkist Growers, Inc.: $546,690
• U.S. Apple Export Council: $196,515
• U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council: $259,953
• U.S. Pecan Growers Council: $1,325,010
• Washington Apple Commission: $8,457,600
• Washington State Fruit Commission: $709,203

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest efforts by the Trump Administration and Secretary Perdue as they look to further stimulate innovation in ag.

USDA