USA: Washington Apple Commission receives export development funding

The Washington Apple Commission has secured additional funding for export promotion following the launch of a new trade development programme by the US government. In November 2023, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service announced the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The programme was created to expand and develop market opportunities and trade possibilities for US food and agricultural products, focusing on Africa, Latin America, and South and South-East Asia. This funding programme will support 66 commodity groups who have been working to increase Market Access Program (Map) funding, which is provided through the Farm Bill, and has remained stagnant at US$200m for more than 15 years. US agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, authorised US$1.2bn in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for RAPP. The programme includes multi-year funding spread over five tranches, with US$300m allocated to the first tranche. Vilsack said, “By enabling US exporters to expand ...