USHBC Awarded $850,000 in AFTPP Funding 

Folsom, California, April 22, 2026 – The USHBC has been awarded a $850,000 grant from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP).

The AFTPP was established to strengthen the position of American agriculture in the global marketplace. The program is a precursor to larger supplemental funding coming in fiscal year 2027 from the Working Families Tax Cuts.

For the blueberry industry, this $850,000 injection will be a primary catalyst for:

• Increasing our presence in high-growth regions where demand for premium, health-focused fruit is surging.
• Building on the success of recent missions, such as our outreach in the Philippines, to forge lasting partnerships with importers, distributors, retailers and the media. 
• Promoting the benefits of USA Blueberries to consumers worldwide.

“USDA’s market development programs have a proven record of delivering for our farmers, ranchers and producers,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. “Partnering with industry opens new doors for trade, strengthening our position in the global marketplace and advancing the administration’s priority of keeping American agriculture competitive, resilient and ready to meet growing global demand.” 

“This AFTPP funding is a strategic catalyst for the blueberry industry. We’re ready to leverage these resources to scale our reach, accelerate demand and secure a dominant position for USA Blueberries in high-growth global markets,” said USHBC President Kasey Cronquist. 

Created 25 years ago to grow the blueberry category, the USHBC exists to give more consumers in the U.S more reasons to buy more blueberries,expand demand for U.S. blueberries in global markets and equip the industry for success.

The USHBC maintains a robust international market development program aimed at expanding global demand for U.S. blueberries through targeted trade and consumer initiatives. Priority markets include South Korea, Japan, India, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. All activities are strategically designed to build awareness, drive preference and increase sales of U.S. blueberry products across both fresh and processed categories.

About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

Established in 2000, The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USHBC represents blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. USHBC was established by blueberry growers and currently has 2,500 growers, packers, exporters and importers. USHBC is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments.

Learn more at ushbc.blueberry.org and blueberry.org