USDA Announces Map Allocations for Fiscal 1999 Release No. 0265.99 Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623 laura.trivers@usda.gov Judith G. Goldich (202) 720-0328 goldich@fas.usda.gov USDA ANNOUNCES MAP ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL 1999 WASHINGTON, June 25, 1999--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced 1999 allocations of $90 million to 65 U.S. trade organizations for export promotion activities in international markets under the Market Access Program (MAP). "The purpose of this program is to help U.S. product sales flourish in foreign markets," Glickman said. "The end result is increased export demand for American food and forest products, and jobs here at home." Export promotion is a vital tool in USDA's efforts to expand fair and free trade. The Market Access Program is a cost-share program, with all MAP funds for promotion of branded products allocated to cooperatives and small U.S. companies to help them expand their sales in the international marketplace. Exporters need tools to help them compete in the competitive global market. Continuing financial problems over nearly half the world, increasing production in key competitor countries, and aggressive use of export promotion tools by competitors mean that efforts such as the MAP are more important than ever. The MAP uses funds from USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation to enter into agreements with U.S. agricultural trade organizations, state regional groups, and cooperatives. The CCC funds are used to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities in specified countries for both brand and generic promotions of American agricultural products. The MAP is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Since its inception in 1986, the MAP has been instrumental in helping small and new-to-market companies build new markets overseas. USDA reaches out to small companies, with a special emphasis on minority and disadvantaged groups. For example, five American Indian tribes were represented at FOODEX '99 in Tokyo, Japan. As a result of its participation in this trade show, one company, Quinault Pride Enterprise, has confirmed sales of nearly $200,000 of fresh seafood products. Last year, USDA announced a new streamlined application process known as the Unified Export Strategy (UES). The UES offers applicants the opportunity to submit a single, consolidated proposal for several export programs, including the MAP and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program. This year, USDA implemented phase two of the UES by making available an Internet- based UES application. Sixty-one percent of the UES applicants submitted their proposals via the Internet. This new process has saved considerable time and money for both program applicants and USDA. Several organizations have reported savings of more than 50 percent over previous years' submissions. All program applications undergo a competitive review process that compares the performance of each applicant to all others on the basis of four weighted criteria: degree to which the applicant will contribute resources to the program, historic export performance, projected export goals, and accuracy of past export goals. Proposals for the MAP are developed by cooperatives, agricultural trade organizations, and state regional groups and submitted to USDA by an annual deadline announced by USDA and published in the Federal Register. For additional information on the program, call the Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-4327. MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS FISCAL YEAR 1999 Participant Allocation Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute 2,471,712 American Forest & Paper Association 6,054,002 American Jojoba Association 56,684 American Peanut Council 640,276 American Seafood Institute/Rhode Island Seafood Council 405,940 American Seed Trade Association 57,571 American Sheep Industry Association 145,418 American Soybean Association 1,807,137 Asparagus USA 245,526 Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California 1,246,738 California Agricultural Export Council 546,380 California Cling Peach Growers Advisory Board 659,871 California Kiwifruit Commission 130,471 California Pistachio Commission 835,781 California Prune Board 1,755,985 California Strawberry Commission 520,950 California Table Grape Commission 1,587,808 California Tomato Commission/Florida Tomato Committee 139,310 California Tree Fruit Agreement 757,521 California Walnut Commission 2,197,640 Chocolate Manufacturers Association 703,915 Cotton Council International 7,998,938 Cranberry Marketing Committee 588,212 Eastern US Agricultural and Food Export Council 2,695,092 Florida Department of Citrus 3,845,930 Ginseng Board of Wisconsin 65,195 Hop Growers of America 57,749 Intertribal Agriculture Council 349,940 Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. 125,359 Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council 5,191,922 Mohair Council of America 66,445 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 540,412 National Dry Bean Council 586,834 National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. 256,996 National Honey Board 120,398 National Potato Promotion Board 1,527,669 National Renderers Association 257,508 National Sunflower Association 809,180 National Watermelon Promotion Board 110,344 New York Wine and Grape Foundation 90,748 North American Blueberry Council 84,303 Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition 322,730 Oregon Seed Council 160,579 Organic Trade Association 75,230 Papaya Administrative Committee 62,198 Pear Bureau Northwest 936,760 Pet Food Institute 891,828 Raisin Administrative Committee 2,078,881 Southern United States Trade Association 2,091,440 Texas Produce Export Association 62,722 The Catfish Institute 281,867 The Popcorn Board 370,364 USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council 426,898 USA Poultry and Egg Export Council 3,297,104 USA Rice Federation/US Rice Producers Association 2,846,777 U.S. Apple Association 415,734 U.S. Dairy Export Council 1,477,861 U.S. Grains Council 3,142,470 U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. 835,270 U.S. Meat Export Federation 8,315,203 U.S. Wheat Associates 1,044,345 Washington Apple Commission 2,504,995 Washington State Fruit Commission/California Cherry Advisory Board 649,019 Western United States Agricultural Association 5,183,758 Wine Institute 3,190,157 Reserve 1,000,000 TOTAL 90,000,000 * Represents new applicant in 1999. # NOTE: USDA News Releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. 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