May 27, 2025USDA Secretary Rollins highlights California walnuts in UK trade mission
The California Walnut Commission praised U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for her efforts to expand international market access for American farmers following her recent trade mission to the United Kingdom.
The U.K. visit marked Rollins’ first official trade mission since taking office and focused on negotiating a new U.S.-U.K. trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs, removing trade barriers and expanding access for American agricultural exports. The agreement is expected to create a $5 billion opportunity for U.S. agriculture.
California Walnut Commission representatives joined Rollins and other U.S. commodity groups at a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Embassy in London. Participants included Jack Mariani, CEO of Mariani Nut Company; Robert Verloop, executive director and CEO of the California Walnut Commission; and trade representatives Peter Meadows and Ian Forbes from The Garden.
“Having a seat at the table with Secretary Rollins gave us the opportunity to reinforce the importance of the U.K. market to California walnut growers,” said Mariani in a release. “As part of the discussion, we were able to highlight how funds from the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) have been able to support trade and consumer programs across the country. This support led to increased exports into the U.K. market, growing it into a top 10 export market for California walnuts.”
During the mission, Rollins showcased various U.S. agricultural products, including California walnuts, on her social media platforms, signaling federal support for specialty crops in foreign markets.
“The California Walnut Commission applauds Secretary Rollins for her dedication to U.S. farmers, enabling access for American products in existing markets and opening new markets with strong demand for our products,” said Verloop. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the Secretary and her team to advance the access and marketability of California walnuts around the world.”
The trade mission reflects broader efforts by the USDA to strengthen agricultural trade relationships and increase export opportunities for U.S. growers, including those in California’s walnut industry.
