Big Money for Blueberry Exports
It’s time for California Ag Today. On the Ag Information Network, I am Haylie Shipp.
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is announcing that they’ve been awarded $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to expand export opportunities for U.S.A. blueberries.
From Kasey Cronquist, president of USHBC, "We applaud Secretary Tom Vilsack, Undersecretary Alexis Taylor, and the Senate Agriculture Committee for their visionary leadership in creating the RAPP program.” Cronquist adds that, “their support for expanding global markets is invaluable to the agricultural industry and this allocation will undoubtedly foster growth, innovation, and sustainability for our blueberry growers as we work to carry out our vision to empower the industry to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.”
USDA's RAPP announced $300 million in funding in its first year to support eligible projects that enable exporters to break into new markets and increase market share in growth markets.
