August, 1999
U.S. apple industry gets $3 million in MAP funds
by Lee Dean
The apple industry's 1999 crop export promotion efforts will get a boost
of nearly $3 million, compliments of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) Market Access Program (MAP).
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced 1999 allocations of $90 million
to 65 agricultural trade organizations for export promotion activities in
international markets.
The apple industry operates two export promotion programs. The U.S. Apple Association's U.S. Apple Export Council (USAEC) was allocated $415,734, and the Washington Apple Commission was awarded $2,504,995.
"Every member of our industry, from Maine to California to Washington, benefits from MAP and the export sales its funding promotes," said USApple president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz. "It remains one of the most successful public-private partnerships ever created, returning far more to the federal treasury in job growth and tax revenue than it spends."
U.S. apple exports have increased by 56% since 1986, the first year the industry participated in the MAP program. Over the course of the program's 13-year existence, the apple industry has received more than $45 million in USDA export promotion funds.
USAEC conducts foreign promotions on behalf of California, Michigan, New York, New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia apple growers, while the Washington Apple Commission undertakes export promotion activities on behalf of that state's apple growers.
MAP funds are matched by apple grower contributions to conduct international marketing and promotional activities in more than 20 countries around the world. Major markets for U.S. apples include Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.
Despite its enormous success in promoting increased agricultural exports, the MAP program still has its critics in Congress. The House of Representatives in June approved the administration's request for $90 million in MAP funds as part of the fiscal 1999 agricultural appropriations bill, after soundly defeating an amendment to eliminate the program's funding. The Senate was scheduled to resume consideration of its version of the agricultural funding bill the week of June 28.
USApple is calling on industry members to contact their
Senators to urge support for the MAP program, and to oppose any amendments
to eliminate or reduce funding for this critical export program. A sample
letter can be found in the Government Affairs section of the USApple website
at www.usapple.org.
