Farm Export Promotion Funds Flow

The Agriculture Department is allocating $300 million to 66 US organizations, under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), to build demand for US food and farm exports in high-potential markets around the globe, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday.

The program was launched last October, authorizing $1.2 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to help US exporters expand their customer base beyond traditional and established markets.

It focuses on regions such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and South and Southeast Asia, where consumer demand and purchasing power are growing.

Beneficiaries include promotional outreach and research funds for co-ops and marketing boards including

• $10 million to Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California,
• $5 million to American Pistachio Growers/Cal-Pure Produce, Inc.
• $28 Million to American Soybean Association
• $19 million to the Cotton Council International
• $13 million to The Wine Institute

Tuesday's  announcement represents the first tranche of funding under the program.   A complete list o of organizations that received RAPP funding, please visit the following link: FY 2024 RAPP Funding Allocations.

“By enabling US exporters to expand their footprint in diverse and dynamic new markets, RAPP will help make them more competitive and resilient in an increasingly volatile global trading environment,” Mr. Vilsack said.

“We know the potential is out there, but it takes time and money to grow new markets. USDA is pleased to be able to provide the start-up capital to help tap into these opportunities, because if we are serious about reversing the decline of small and mid-sized farms, and building wealth that stays in rural communities, it’s crucial that we create and sustain diverse market opportunities abroad as well as at home.”