The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) announced on May 21 that it has been awarded $5 million through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to diversify market opportunities for US food and agricultural products by expanding markets beyond the top regions that US ag products are currently exported to.
The funding will be supplied through USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, and will be used to foster relationships, maintain and improve market access, and expand export opportunities for small and medium-sized US food and beverage companies. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said that for each $1 invested in export market development, US agricultural exports have increased by more than $24.
“We are excited for NASDA members to have additional resources to bolster international marketing opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “With this new investment in diversifying markets and increasing trade, we can support rural and agricultural communities through developing long-term economic impacts.”