FOLSOM, Calif, October 24, 2023 – The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) welcomes today’s announcement by USDA of the new Regional Agriculture Promotion Program, or RAPP.
Global demand for U.S. blueberries has increased dramatically in the past five years in large part due to USDA market development and promotion programs such as the Market Access Program, the Agriculture Trade Program, and the Quality Samples Program. The U.S. blueberry industry has leveraged these programs to drive demand and sales of U.S. blueberries in key export markets throughout Asia, resulting in increased returns back to U.S. growers.
“The new Regional Agriculture Promotion Program will build off the success of existing market development programs and further support the blueberry industry’s efforts to increase global consumption,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of the North American Blueberry Council.
“Expanding export market demand is critical to the future success of the U.S. blueberry industry. We continue to see year-over-year growth in domestic consumption, however, to achieve our vision of making blueberries the world’s favorite fruit, we must continue to grow demand globally as well.” continued Cronquist.
“The blueberry industry looks forward to continued partnership with USDA through all of the available foreign market development programs to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.”