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FACT
SHEET:
Quality Samples Program
January 2011
Printable version
(.pdf)
The Quality Samples Program (QSP) helps U.S. agricultural trade organizations
provide samples of their agricultural products to potential importers overseas.
Focusing on industry and manufacturing, as opposed to end-use consumers, the QSP
permits potential customers to discover U.S. quality. The QSP also allows
manufacturers overseas to do test runs to assess how U.S. food and fiber
products can best meet their production needs. In
2010,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided allocations totaling about
$1.9 million to trade associations and state agricultural organizations under
this program.
How the program benefits U.S. agriculture:
QSP stimulates interest and demand for U.S. agricultural products. Increased
opportunities for agricultural exports ripple throughout the U.S. economy.
How the program works:
Each year, USDA announces an application period for participation in the QSP,
publishing it in the Federal Register. Trade organizations and private
firms can submit QSP proposals to USDA as part of the Unified Export Strategy
(UES).
QSP applications undergo a competitive review process based on criteria
specified in the Federal Register announcement. Participants approved for
QSP funding obtain commodity samples, export them and provide the importer the
technical assistance necessary to use the sample properly. When a project is
finished, USDA reimburses the participants for the costs of procuring and
transporting the samples. The technical assistance component
is a
requirement of the program but is not reimbursable under the QSP.
USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds the program, which is authorized
under the CCC Charter Act.
What commodities are covered:
USDA has approved QSP
proposals to promote a wide variety of U.S. commodities, including wheat,
citrus, cranberries, mohair, hides, rice, and soybeans. Many other commodities
are eligible.
Additional Information:
To submit a QSP proposal or to learn more about the program, contact the USDA-FAS
Program Operations Division, Grant Programs Branch,
Phone: (202) 720-4327, Fax: (202) 720-9361; E-mail:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov,
Internet:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/QSP.asp
Information on FAS programs, trade data and reports are available by accessing
the FAS Home Page at:
http://www.fas.usda.gov.
Fiscal Year 2010 Quality Samples Program Allocations
|
Participant |
Market(s) |
Amount |
|
Alaska
Seafood Marketing Institute |
China |
$28,000 |
|
American Sheep Industry Association |
China,
Eastern Europe, India, Mexico, Western Europe
|
$365,000 |
|
American Soybean Association |
Ghana,
Palestine |
$47,000 |
|
California Agricultural Export Council
|
China |
$300,000 |
|
California Walnut Commission |
China |
$25,000 |
|
Cranberry Marketing Committee |
Austria, France, Germany, Korea, Mexico,
Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland |
$72,000 |
|
Ginseng Board of Wisconsin |
China,
Korea, Japan, Taiwan, |
$170,000 |
|
Hop
Growers of America |
Brazil, China, Germany, Russia |
$5,000 |
|
Mohair
Council of America |
China,
India, South Africa, South America, Southeast Asia,
Western Europe |
$225,000 |
|
National Potato Promotion Board |
Brazil, Central America, China, Egypt, Indonesia,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines,
South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa,
Thailand, Vietnam |
$455,000 |
|
U.S.
Grains Council |
Egypt,
Saudi Arabia |
$66,500 |
|
U.S.
Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. |
Russia |
$64,100 |
|
U.S.
Wheat Associates |
Morocco |
$66,740 |
|
|
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|
|
Total |
|
$1,889,340 |
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720‑2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326‑W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250‑9410 or call (202) 720‑5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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