Marketing Funds Available for Food and Agriculture Exporters

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  As the global economy rebounds, demand for U.S. products is growing.  According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. agricultural exports are projected to top $104.5 billion in 2010 – an increase of $7.9 billion from last year.  President Obama's new National Export Initiative seeks to double the amount of U.S. exports over the next five years.  

Exporters of food and agricultural products can take advantage of this momentum starting August 1.  The four non-profit State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs) will accept applications for the 2011 Branded Program, a reimbursement program designed to help small businesses offset the costs of promoting their food and agricultural products overseas.

The Branded Program can reimburse U.S. companies up to half of their international marketing expenses, for items such as: advertising, traveling and exhibiting at international trade shows, in-store promotions, changes to labels and packaging, and more.  Program participants must be businesses classified as "small" according to Small Business Administration guidelines or agricultural cooperatives.  Products eligible for Branded Program promotion must contain at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural ingredients and be labeled as "Product of the USA."  

To apply, firms can submit a pre-qualification worksheet to the SRTG that serves the region where they are headquartered.

About the SRTGs:

The four State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs) include Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Food Export USA – Northeast, Southern United States Trade Association, and Western United States Agricultural Trade Association. These organizations provide a full range of programs and services to assist companies with their export efforts. The SRTGs work closely with state Departments of Agriculture and administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

SOURCE Southern U.S. Trade Association