In 2019, The GFB, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the 2nd Congressional District, faced a 10% retaliatory tariff on five of their nine products in Canada. After spending five plus years entering and establishing their brand in Canada with the help of Market Access Program (MAP) funds, The GFB would no longer be eligible to receive MAP funds to promote their products in the wake of the tariff situation.
However, thanks to new funding from the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program, The GFB was able to continue to receive marketing support to attend Canadian Tradeshows, conduct in-store product demos and launch new products in 2019. These efforts helped the company retain their market share during an uncertain period.
According to Ben Wahl, Co-Owner of The GFB, “Without the support of the ATP Program, the financial impact of the tariffs would have put a significant burden on our ability to maintain promotions and trade marketing activities. This, at minimum, would have put us at a disadvantage in the market which would have resulted in lost sales and market position.”
The GFB is a producer of gluten-free protein bars, bites and oatmeal.
Food Export uses funding from the
Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) and the
Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.