07/07/05 M.A.P. funds for `05

Four commodity organizations representing the Northwest fruit industry are among the beneficiaries of federal Market Access Program funds for Fiscal Year 2005. That's according to Nancy Foster, who represents one of the recipient organizations, the U.S. Apple Association, which received $471,000 dollars in M.A.P. funds. Her organization is one of two M.A.P. fund recipients representing the apple industry. FOSTER: The Washington Apple Commission is a major recipient of M.A.P. fund. In the F.Y. 05' announcement, the Washington Apple Commission will receive almost $2.5 million dollars for M.A.P. funds. In addition, Pear Bureau Northwest will receive $1.8 million dollars for Fiscal Year '05 and the Washington State Fruit Commission will receive $737,000 dollars for the current fiscal year. Foster says M.A.P. funds come into play in helping these commodity groups open and expand markets, and market product, overseas. FOSTER: The M.A.P. program was established by Congress to partner funds with growers funds so it's a private-public partnership, because Congress recognized that growers versus large companies need some additional assistance to help expand sales. But for U.S. Apples and other commodity groups, the focus now is not just on spending 2005 M.A.P. funds. In our next program, how 2006 M.A.P. funding is shaping up in Congress.