11/29/05 Promoting fruit overseas

Northwest agriculture has been a big benefactor of a U.S.D.A. agency designed to promote ag in foreign markets. The Foreign Agricultural Service helps U.S. commodities gain market access and exposure in both existing and new markets, through the Market Access Program. These partnerships of taxpayer funds and matching grower funds have aided several Northwest specialty crops from hay to potatoes. But the poster child of F.A.S. and M.A.P. for our region's agriculture has been the tree fruit industry. According to F.A.S.'s Mike Dwyer, groups that utilize grower assessments and M.A.P. funds for marketing have made huge strides in several nations as far as market access and growth. DWYER: And Asia is one of the principal theaters of operation and in fact, U.S. horticultural exports have done very well to Asia over the last ten years. Dwyer notes that projected exports to foreign markets in 2006 are already on pace to break a record, eclipsing the one set just this year. DWYER: Much of this is due to the market opening and market development activities. And Dwyer is confident that funding for F.A.S., M.A.P., and related programs will continue well into the 2007 Farm Bill. DWYER: I think what you'll find is these quote "commodity cooperators" are almost universally across the board very enthusiastic. They have seen the results that market development can bear for producers. My guess is there is a pretty good chance it will be sustained in the next Farm Bill.