Blueberries Awarded Nearly $1M In Grant Funding

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has been awarded a $850,000 grant from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s America First Trade Promotion Program.

The Council said these funds will be used to increase presence in high-growth regions where demand for premium, health-focused fruit is surging, and to forge lasting partnerships with importers, distributors, retailers promoting the benefits of USA Blueberries to consumers worldwide.

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.

“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.

“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 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.” 

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