US: Papaya growers in council for promotion of Hawaiian produce
SHAC is made up of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association (HPIA), the Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) and the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association (HFNA). Colectivleyy the three groups represent 543 different businesses.
In 2010 they collectively earner $120 - $11.1 million of which was for papaya.
“Through SHAC, multiple Hawaii commodity groups are unifying to utilize federal and state funding to market and export our made-in-Hawaii brand,” said Eric Tanouye, SHAC vice-president and president of the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association.
Under SHAC, Hawaii commodities can apply for funds through the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). In 2012, $200 million was authorized by Congress under the Farm Bill to be channeled through FAS grants to more than 70 participants.
SHAC will mainly target grants through two funding opportunities: the Market Access Program (MAP) and Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC). A cost share program, MAP helps U.S. producers and trade associations finance overseas marketing and promotional activities to support ag exports. TASC tackles technical trade barriers like crop regulations, sanitation and pest-control.
As an umbrella organisation SHAC will offer growers the chance to pool financial resources in order to reach the required amount of match funding for MAP, as well as the required broadness of representation.
SHAC hopes to broaden its horizons even further by adding commodity associations to its ranks, at a rate of at least one every two years.
“Our vision of is to create a solid management structure to support members in planning, government financing, compliance and activity implementation,” said Ken Kamiya, president of SHAC and former HPIA president.
“Many Hawaii commodities face the same challenges: geographic isolation, a high cost of doing business and no winter climatic control of plant diseases and pests,” Kamiya said. “It makes sense to seek solutions by pooling our financial and human resources.”
Source: www.hawaii247.com
