USDA considers trade help petition from Concord grape growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service will review a petition for trade adjustment assistance from a group of Concord grape growers and will hold a public hearing in Washington March 3 to discuss the petition.
The petition maintains that increasing imports of grape juice contributed significantly to a decline in the average purchase price for Concord grapes provided to domestic juice processors in the most recent marketing year.
The Concord grape producers submitted price sheets of grape juice processors serving the region to support their petition.
The agency has the next 40 days to determine whether or not Concord grape producers in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio are eligible for trade adjustment assistance. If the determination is positive, they will be eligible to apply to the Farm Service Agency for technical assistance at no cost and adjustment assistance payments.