The Almond Board of California says the USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program has allocated an additional $6 million in funding for the expansion of promotional activities, new market research and the development of strategies to grow global demand for California almonds.
This new allocation brings the total funding for the board’s program to $13 million over five years.
“The first tranche of $7 million has already allowed us to expand our India program and initiate new market assessments,” Julie Adams, vice president of global, technical, and regulatory affairs at the Almond Board of California, said in a news release. “This second tranche builds on that work, helping us accelerate our plans and explore ingredient-based demand for California almonds.”
The RAPP funds support long-term projects implemented over three to five years. A key focus for this initial funding has been to the top export market for California almonds: India. The almond board says India also offers strong growth potential.
“These funds allow us to broaden our strategic and deliberate approach to global markets,” Adams said. “We’ve been able to expand consumer outreach and start exploring regional growth opportunities within India. This groundwork will inform and amplify our efforts as we deploy the second tranche of funding.”
The Almond Board of California says the RAPP funding enables the organization to stretch growers’ assessment dollars and supplement resources already being used for various initiatives such as environmental research and global market development.
“Securing external funds like these is critical,” Adams said. “It ensures we can cover our priorities while maximizing the impact of every dollar contributed by our growers.”
