In all $234.5 million will go to 70 trade organizations in order to help the promotion of products. The money was assigned to the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, which are both overseen by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that given the high competition in markets across the globe, the country has to support the efforts of exporters.
"When you consider the current global financial crisis, increasing production in key competitor countries and aggressive use of export promotion tools by our competitors, USDA's market development programs are more important than ever," Vilsack said.
The federal government is not the only one getting into the act when it comes to promoting American products overseas. Officials from North Dakota recently announced that a model farm will be built in Ukraine that will feature farm equipment produced in the state.
