USDA accepts proposals for 3 export programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service will accept industry proposals for three of its export market development programs through April 3.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting industry proposals for three of its export market development programs through April 3.  
   “Applications for the Emerging Markets Program, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program and the Quality Samples Program will be accepted until fiscal year 2015 funds are exhausted,” the agency said in a statement Monday.
   The Emerging Markets Program supports technical assistance for the promotion of U.S. farm products in emerging markets.
   The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program helps open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. Through this program, USDA provides support to address sanitary, phytosanitary or technical restrictions, such as testing, labeling, packaging and certification requirements, that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. 
   The Quality Samples Program helps U.S. agricultural trade groups supply product samples to potential importers by funding purchases of products and shipping. It allows overseas customers to learn more about the products and gives foreign manufacturers a chance to do test runs to assess how U.S. agriculture products can best meet their production needs, USDA said.  
   More details about the three programs are available on the USDA’s Unified Export Strategy website.