News
WUSATA Awarded $6.2M in AFTPP Funding
The Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) is pleased to announce it has been awarded $6,200,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service America First Trade Promotion Program.
This funding will advance shared priorities of expanding exports, strengthening American agriculture and creating new economic opportunities for U.S. producers, processors, and agribusinesses across the Western United States. Through targeted trade promotion activities, WUSATA will help connect U.S. companies with qualified international buyers, increase demand for American-grown products, and open new pathways for long-term export growth.
The award will support strategic initiatives designed to deliver measurable returns for U.S. agriculture, including export education, buyer engagement programs, international trade shows, trade missions, market intelligence, and promotional campaigns focused on high-potential markets. These efforts will help Western U.S. companies compete globally while reinforcing the reputation of the United States as a trusted supplier of safe, innovative, and high-quality food and agricultural products.
Through the AFTPP investment, WUSATA will:
- Expand market access opportunities for U.S. agricultural exporters.
- Increase participation in international trade shows and buyer missions that generate sales leads and business relationships.
- Deliver market intelligence and export assistance to help companies succeed overseas.
- Support small and medium-sized agribusinesses in diversifying exports and reaching new customers.
- Strengthen demand for products grown, raised, and produced in the Western United States.
WUSATA is grateful to USDA FAS for its continued partnership and commitment to American agriculture. This investment will help businesses increase exports, grow rural and regional economies, support jobs throughout the agricultural supply chain, and ensure U.S. producers remain competitive in the global marketplace.
By leveraging these funds, WUSATA will continue driving export growth, expanding opportunities for Western agribusinesses, and advancing the success of American agriculture worldwide.
WUSATA Awarded MAP Funds to Support Western U.S. Agribusinesses in Global Markets
The Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $9,671,750 in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) Market Access Program (MAP). This funding will support WUSATA’s ongoing efforts to help Western U.S. agribusinesses expand and compete in international markets.
The MAP grant will enable WUSATA to continue and enhance a wide range of export development activities, including export education, international trade shows, trade missions, buyer outreach, and market intelligence. These efforts are designed to strengthen the global presence of Western U.S. agricultural products. Through these programs, WUSATA connects agribusinesses with new customers, builds long-term trade relationships, and helps reduce barriers for small businesses seeking to enter and grow in international markets.
WUSATA extends its sincere thanks to USDA FAS for its continued investment in U.S. agricultural exports and the organizations that support them. WUSATA is deeply grateful for the ongoing partnership with USDA FAS and its commitment to advancing U.S. agriculture globally. This funding reinforces the importance of collaboration in building resilient, competitive export markets and ensures that Western U.S. agribusinesses have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
In the coming months, WUSATA will share additional details about program opportunities made possible through the MAP grant, including upcoming events, activities, and resources available to eligible agribusinesses. The WUSATA team looks forward to continuing to serve Western U.S. agribusinesses in the year ahead.
WUSATA Leadership Announcement: New Executive Director and Deputy Director | 4-1-2025
WUSATA is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Fearneyhough as our new Executive Director, and the promotion of Renata Dalton to Deputy Director effective April 1, 2025.
Mr. Fearneyhough has served as WUSATA's Interim Executive Director since October 2024 and brings over 25 years of experience in building and developing global markets for agricultural products. A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Communications and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wyoming.
Jason's unique global perspective has been shaped through significant leadership roles, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas and Director of Agriculture for Wyoming. His extensive background spans agriculture, natural resource management, international trade, and executive leadership in both business and government sectors. This diverse experience, combined with his expertise in non-profit and community development, provides a solid foundation for his leadership at WUSATA.
WUSATA is proud to announce the promotion of Renata Dalton to the role of Deputy Director. Renata joined WUSATA in March 2023 as Director of Programs, bringing more than 20 years of experience across the oil and gas sector and agricultural marketing and trade promotion. Prior to joining WUSATA, she served as the Director of Global Business Development for the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), where she successfully led international initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), including the Market Access Program (MAP), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program, Emerging Markets Program (EMP), Quality Samples Program (QSP), and Global Broad-Based Initiative (GBI) Program.
Since joining WUSATA, Renata has been instrumental in strengthening strategic program management, expanding market development activities, and enhancing services to member states and U.S. agribusinesses. Her broad expertise in federal grant management, international market expansion, and global business development will continue to advance WUSATA’s mission of connecting Western U.S. agricultural products to markets worldwide.
WUSATA Moves Office Locations! | 10-21-2024
WUSATA has moved office locations! Our new address is 4400 NE 77th Ave, Ste 275 - Vancouver, WA 98662.
Please reach out to export@wusata.org if you have any questions or need assistance.