The U.S. Department of Agriculture named 49 recipients of Agricultural Trade Promotion funds — designed to spur new export markets for growers hurt by tariffs and other trade disruptions — including 11 produce industry groups.
The July 19 announcement from the USDA lists agricultural organizations receiving $100 million. In January, the department announced allocations of $200 million from the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program. The ATP is one of three programs designated by the Trump administration to help producers hurt by tariffs from China, Mexico and other countries.
Four produce groups that received ATP funds in the January announcement did not receive anything in the second round: California Pear Advisory Board, Florida Department of Citrus, National Watermelon Promotion Board and Sunkist Growers.
“China and other nations haven’t played by the rules for a long time and President Trump is standing up to them, sending a clear message that the United States will no longer tolerate their unfair trade practices,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in the release. “At USDA, we are always looking to expand existing markets or open new ones and this infusion of money will do just that.”
The recipients also include four tree nut groups, raisin and prune associations, the Organic Trade Association, and U.S. regional trade associations that promote agricultural products for export, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Agricultural Trade Promotion recipients, with January allocations first and the recently announced trade mitigation allocations second, are:
- California Cherry Marketing and Research Board: $394,440, $300,000;
- California Fresh Fruit Association: $267,565, $262,435;
- California Pear Advisory Board: $140,690, $0;
- California Strawberry Commission: $577,140, $407,000;
- California Table Grape Commission: $2.86 million, $3.1 million;
- Cranberry Marketing Committee: $1.14 million, $2 million;
- Florida Department of Citrus: $550,000, $0;
- National Potato Promotion Board (Potatoes USA): $3.67 million, $1.46 million;
- National Watermelon Promotion Board; $50,000, $0;
- Pear Bureau Northwest: $564,170, $1.54 million;
- Sunkist Growers Inc.: $546,690, $0;
- U.S. Apple Export Council: $196,515, $5,485;
- U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council: $259,953, $350,000;
- Washington Apple Commission: $8.46 million, $1.5 million; and
- Washington State Fruit Commission: $709,203, $456,297.
For the full list of Agricultural Trade Promotion fund recipients, visit the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service website.
