USDA Awards $300 Million to Diversify Export Markets for U.S. Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on May 21st that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allocate $300 million to 66 U.S. organizations under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The program aims to boost demand for American food and farm exports in promising markets worldwide.

Secretary Vilsack introduced RAPP in October 2023, approving $1.2 billion in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation. This funding is intended to assist U.S. exporters in diversifying their customer base beyond traditional markets, with a focus on regions such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South and Southeast Asia, where consumer demand and purchasing power are increasing.

GCCA is actively working with several of the organizations that received funding, and we are hopeful that cold chain development will be addressed with some of the funding announced.