USDA increases funding to USHBC

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has notified the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) that its 2021 Market Access Program (MAP) funding award will increase 44% to $299,195, up from $207,449 in 2020 and $211,540 in 2019.

“This increase is a huge win for USHBC’s international efforts and is reflective of the industry’s commitment to developing export markets for U.S. highbush blueberries. From the formation of the USHBC export committee in 2019 to the use of USDA FAS Trade Programs like MAP, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to address technical barriers to trade, USHBC is making strides in export market development for U.S. blueberry growers,” said USHBC Vice President Alicia Adler.

USHBC will use the additional MAP funds to expand promotions of fresh, frozen, dried and further processed blueberries in targeted export markets throughout Asia. Major markets include Japan, South Korea and emerging markets throughout Southeast Asia (including newly open markets like Vietnam and the Philippines).

USHBC submits a proposal known as the Unified Export Strategy to FAS each June. Funding is announced annually in November.