Foreign Market Development Program (FMD)

The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, also known as the Cooperator Program, helps create, expand and maintain long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products. Under the program,  FAS partners with U.S. agricultural producers and processors, who are represented by non-profit commodity or trade associations called “cooperators,” to promote U.S. commodities overseas.

The FMD program focuses on generic promotion of U.S. commodities, rather than consumer-oriented promotion of branded products. Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope.

FMD-funded projects generally address long-term opportunities to reduce foreign import constraints or expand export growth opportunities. For example, this might include efforts to: 

  • reduce infrastructural or historical market impediments,
  • improve processing capabilities,
  • modify codes and standards, or
  • identify new markets or new uses for the agricultural commodity or product.

Each year, FAS announces the FMD application period and criteria on its website and via Grants.gov. Organizations apply for the FMD program through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) process, which allows applicants to request funding from multiple USDA market development programs through a single, strategically coordinated proposal. FAS reviews the proposals and awards funds to applicants that demonstrate the potential for effective performance based on a clear, long-term strategic plan. 

Directory of Market Development Program Participants

How to Apply

Application Deadline: May 19, 2023
Status: Closed

News and Features

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from eligible organizations for fiscal year 2024 funding for five export market development programs.
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service had an exceptional year in 2022, expanding U.S. agricultural trade, ramping up climate change resiliency work, and improving food and nutrition security around the globe.
Testimony by USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

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