The US apple industry's 2002 crop export promotion efforts will welcome nearly $3 million in additional support, compliments of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Market Access Programme (MAP).

Agricultural secretary Ann Veneman announced 2002 MAP allocations of $90m to 67 agricultural trade organisations for export promotion activities in international markets.

The apple industry operates two export promotion programs, which combined received nearly $3m to bolster apple export initiatives. The US Apple Association's (USApple) US Apple Export Council (USAEC) was allocated $395,770, and the Washington Apple Commission was awarded $2,452,067.

'Every member of our industry benefits from the Market Access Program and the export sales its funding promotes,' said USApple vice president James Cranney Jr. 'MAP is essential to our industry's overall success, given nearly one-quarter of our fresh apple sales are coming from outside US borders.' MAP is slated to get a boost in total funding over the next few years. In fact, the program will more than double from $90m to $200m by the year 2006. President George W. Bush signed this piece of legislation into law in May as part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, otherwise known as the farm bill.

US apple exports have increased by 313 per cent since 1985, the first year the industry participated in the MAP program. Over the course of the program's existence, the apple industry has received more than $54m in USDA export promotion funds.

One out of every four fresh apples grown in the United States is exported, generating nearly $400m in sales annually.

USAEC conducts foreign promotions on behalf of California, Michigan, New York, New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia apple growers, while the Washington Apple Commission undertakes export promotion activities on behalf of that state's apple growers.

MAP funds are matched by apple grower contributions to conduct international marketing and promotional activities in more than 20 countries around the world. Major markets for US apples include Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Latin America, Middle East, Mexico, Taiwan, and the UK.

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