The nation’s tree fruit organizations fared well in 2015 funding allocations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program. Ten organizations representing tree fruit will receive more than $16 million of the $173 million allocated to help expand export markets.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the MAP funding allocations for fiscal year 2015 yesterday. The 2015 MAP allocations increased slightly from last year’s allocation by about $50,000.

In the Pacific Northwest, apple, pear, cherry, and stone fruit growers collectively will receive an increase of about 5 percent from 2014 MAP levels (more than $9.9 million), to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities. The Washington Apple Commission will receive $5.1 million, up from last year’s $4.5 million, the Pear Bureau Northwest will receive more than $3 million, and the Washington State Fruit Commission’s allocation was increased about 20 percent from last year to total nearly $1.7 million in new MAP funding.

The Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition, which represents Washington and Oregon wine producers, will receive more than $1.1 million. The Wine Institute, representing California wineries, will reap more than $7.1 million in MAP funding.

California cherry, cling peach, pear, stone fruit, and prune producers will receive more than $4.8 million, while the U.S. Apple Export Council, representing apple producers outside Washington State, will receive nearly $1 million.

The MAP is a partnership between U.S. agricultural trade associations, cooperatives, state and regional trade groups, and small businesses and USDA that shares the costs of building export markets. The program focuses on consumer promotion in foreign countries. Participants contribute an average of more than 200 percent match for generic marketing and promotion activities and a dollar-for-dollar match for promotion of branded products by small businesses and cooperatives. MAP funding is designated in the Farm Bill.

The past six years have been the strongest period for U.S. agricultural exports in the history of the United States. Farm exports in fiscal year 2014 reached a record $152.5 billion and supported more than a million jobs in the country.

The MAP Funding Allocations for FY 2015 contains a complete listing of the allocations.