Newhouse Applauds Trade Funding Awarded to Washington Apples and Fruit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced additional funding allocations for 48 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) applauded the awards made to Washington Apple Commission and Washington State Fruit Commission.

"Washingtonians are proud of the iconic apples and fruit we produce and export to dozens of countries around the world," said Rep. Newhouse. "President Trump is working to level the playing field on trade for farmers across the country, but retaliatory tariffs from China and our other large trading partners have temporarily narrowed our access to some of Washington's biggest customers. Thank you, Secretary Perdue, for listening to farmers and providing this critical funding to help Washington apple growers and fruit producers find relief, expand their markets, and make an even bigger international footprint."

"The Washington Apple Commission appreciates the opportunity to use additional Agriculture Trade Promotion funding to market Washington apples on behalf of our grower membership. The retaliatory tariffs haven been extremely challenging for our industry and this second allocation will build on the planned promotional activities to combat these negative impacts," said Toni Lynn Adams, Communications Outreach Coordinator, Washington Apple Commission. "The funding will help keep us competitive with other apple producing origins, build awareness of Washington apples with consumers in target export markets and nurture growing markets for Washington apples that hold a lot of potential moving forward. We will strive to make this funding as effective and efficient as possible on behalf of growers and shippers. This will help start the new season on a positive note and bolster our presence worldwide."

Background:

The Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Trade Aid package to provide relief to farmers and producers in response to retaliatory tariffs and trade disruption from China. ATP is administered by the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) to assist in developing new export markets on behalf of producers.

Washington Apple Commission was awarded $8,457,600 in January 2019. With this additional award of $1,500,000, Washington Apple Commission has received a total of $9,957,600 in ATP funding.

Washington State Fruit Commission was awarded $709,203 in January 2019. With this additional award of $456,297, Washington State Fruit Commission has received a total of $1,165,500 in ATP funding.