Growing overseas markets one bowl at a time
Feb 11, 2019
WASHINGTON DC – The 2019 Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) allocations were announced late last week and USA Rice received more than $4 million, close to $25,000 more than last year, reflecting an 11 percent increase in FMD and a 7 percent reduction in MAP.
The MAP and FMD allocations, coupled with the $3 million dollars of Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program funding over three years increases opportunities to explore new markets and greater export potential for the rice industry.
“In total, USA Rice will have more that $5 million dollars to conduct promotional activities in FY2019,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “We depend on these funds to spread the message to consumers in overseas markets of the multiple benefits and the quality of U.S.-grown rice.”
Last week during the USA Rice Government Affairs Conference, Ward and several USA Rice members met with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Administrator Ken Isley and Trade Programs Administrator Mark Slupek to thank them for their continuing support and discuss issues facing the U.S. rice industry.
“The MAP and FMD programs are the lifeblood for USA Rice promotional activities abroad,” said Terry Harris, chairman of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee who was at the meeting with FAS officials. “The overall increase in funding is a testament to the great work that USA Rice is doing in our partner countries to reach new markets and grow market share worldwide.”