Industry/General
Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook
(five times a year) is an electronic report featuring current intelligence and forecasts of
changing conditions in the U.S. fruit and tree nut sectors.
Topics include production, consumption, prices, trade,
and more.
Relaxing
Fruit and Vegetable Planting Restrictions (February 2007) finds that
market effects would likely be limited and confined to
specific regions and commodities. Eliminating these planting
restrictions for commodity program participants might
enable some producers to switch from program crops to
fruit and vegetables in such areas as California, the
upper Midwest and the coastal plain in the Southeastern
States. For the full report, see Eliminating
Fruit and Vegetable Planting Restrictions: How Would Markets
be Affected? (November 2006).
Michigan:
A State at the Intersection of the Debate Over Full Planting
Flexibility (February 2007) examines
the impacts of elimination of the restriction on the planting
of fruit and vegetable crops for a broad set of Michigan
fruit, vegetable, and wild rice crops (dry beans, pickling
cucumbers, processing tomatoes, fresh market tomatoes,
squash, and blueberries). In many cases, barriers to entry
would be high enough to significantly limit, or even prohibit,
movement of program crop acreage into fruit and vegetable
production, except for movement into dry bean production.
Fruit and
Vegetable Backgrounder (April 2006) describes the economic characteristics
of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry, providing supply,
demand, and policy background for an industry that accounts
for nearly a third of U.S. crop cash receipts and a fifth
of U.S. agricultural exports. A variety of challenges
face this complex and diverse industry in both domestic
and international markets, ranging from immigration reform
and its effect on labor availability to international
competitiveness.
Food
Traceability: One Ingredient in a Safe and Efficient Food
Supply (April 2004) describes the results of an investigation into
the amount, type, and adequacy of traceability systems
in the United States, focusing on the fresh produce, cattle/beef,
and grain sectors. The investigation finds that these
systems vary across industries as firms balance the private
costs and benefits to determine the efficient level of
traceability. For the full report, see Traceability
in the U.S. Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry
Studies (March 2004).
The U.S. Grapefruit
Market (September 2000) explores economic trends in the U.S. fresh
and processed grapefruit markets, including excess production
capacity in the industry and how competition from high-quality
fruit alternatives and changing consumer preferences reduced
domestic consumption during the 1990s.
More Land But Fewer
Farms Dedicated to Fruit Production in 1997 (September 2000) finds
that the number of U.S. farms growing fruit and tree nuts
declined between 1987 and 1997, but farms became bigger.
And while small family or individually operated farms
still dominate the sector, most of the production and
revenue come from a few large farms.
Economic
Trends in the U.S. Pecan Market with an Overview of the
U.S. and World Tree Nut Complex (March 1998) analyzes the domestic
pecan industry, its relation to the rest of the domestic
tree nut industry, and factors affecting prices and production.
Cranberry
Supply Expands in Response to Higher Demand (November 1997) explores
economic trends in the U.S. cranberry industry, including
how new products and medical research helped increase
consumer cranberry demand during the 1990s.
United States
Is World Leader in Tree Nut Production and Trade (August 1997) describes
U.S. tree nut output and exports and how the export market
has grown in importance relative to the domestic market.
The U.S.
Blueberry Industry (December 1995) focuses on the 1980s through the
early 1990s, with emphasis on leading sources of production,
trends in output, demand for fresh and processed blueberry
products, prices, and trade. It also includes a description
of farm characteristics, cultivation and management practices,
and State-level industry descriptions.
The U.S.
Strawberry Industry (January 1995) focuses on the years 1970-93,
with emphasis on factors that have influenced the availability
and prices of strawberries, including cultural practices
and marketing seasons of major strawberry-producing States;
seasonal patterns of shipments, stocks, and prices; supply
and consumption of fresh and frozen strawberries; and
world production and trade of fresh and processed strawberries.
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Trade/International
The Japanese Market for Oranges (March 2008) reviews the trade, production, and consumption of oranges in Japan, which is one of the largest markets for U.S. orange exports. Consumption and trade peaked in the mid-1990s. The report uses recent research findings about demographic and economic changes that might explain why consumption has fallen off in the past 15 years.
Increased U.S. Imports of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (September 2007) have allowed U.S. consumers to eat more fruit and vegetables and enjoy year-round access to various fresh produce. Primary suppliers are the North American Free Trade Agreement region for fresh vegetables, the Southern Hemisphere countries for off-season fresh fruit, and equatorial countries for bananas.
Linking Risk and Economic
Assessments in the Analysis of Plant Pest Regulations:
The Case of U.S. Imports of Mexican Avocados (October 2006) develops
a static partial equilibrium model to evaluate the effects
of allowing fresh Hass avocados from approved orchards
in Mexico to be imported into the United States under
systems approach pest-risk mitigation measures. This analysis
provides an example of the way in which risk assessment
and economic analysis can be integrated to inform the
choice and design of measures that reduce phytosanitary
risks while allowing trade that benefits consumers.
China's
Rising Fruit and Vegetable Exports Challenge U.S. Industries (February 2006) reports that most of China's fruit and vegetable exports
are processed products, which do not yet pose a serious
challenge to U.S. exports. However, China's fresh vegetable
sales to Japan and other Asian markets and its apple exports
to Southeast Asia compete directly with U.S. products.
Over time, China faces stiff challenges in improving the
quality and safety of its products, upgrading its marketing
and distribution infrastructure, and reducing marketing
costs.
Prospects
for India's Emerging Apple Market (January 2006) reports that strong
economic growth is projected to lead to continued expansion
of Indian apple demand, but the high cost of domestic
and imported apples compared with other Indian fruit is
likely to limit consumption to higher income consumers.
Resolution
of the U.S.-Japan Apple Dispute: New Opportunities for
Trade (October 2005) examines the expected impact of Japan's new
phytosanitary protocol for imports of U.S. apples that
complies with the recent World Trade Organization ruling.
With the elimination of the restrictive fire-blight protocol,
U.S. producers have a new opportunity to export apples
to a high-quality export market, at a significantly lower
cost than before.
European
Trading Arrangements in Fruits and Vegetables (July 2004) describes
the extensive participation by the European Union (EU)
in regional and preferential trading arrangements. Over
70 percent of EU fruit and vegetable imports are from
countries benefiting from preferential treatment for some
portion of trade. Exports from countries without preferences,
including the United States, are at a disadvantage in
EU markets.
Global Trade Patterns
in Fruits and Vegetables (June 2004) examines the domestic markets
and trade experiences of major fruit and vegetable traders
to better understand the economic and institutional factors
affecting trade. With major advances in produce handling
and transport, combined with trade agreements and changing
consumers preferences as incomes rise, a more global market
is providing consumers with greater year-round variety.
Cuba's Citrus
Industry: Growth and Change (April 2004) reports that Cuban citrus
is a major commercial crop and foreign exchange earner.
The 1990s saw an industry collapse and a shift from fresh
oranges to processed citrus products and grapefruit production.
If commercial relationships with the United States were
restored, Cuba's citrus industry would likely look to
U.S. markets for new opportunities for Cuban fresh citrus,
processed citrus products, and citrus byproducts.
Cuba's Tropical
Fruit Industry (April 2004) primarily caters to domestic markets
with fresh fruits that are Cuban diet staples. Tropical
fruit production fell with Cuba's collapsing economy in
the early 1990s. Production and demand will both recover
and grow as Cuba's economy recovers. If commercial relationships
with the United States were restored, Cuba could initially
look to U.S. sources for quality tropical fruits for Cuba's
growing tourist market. Eventually, as Cuba's economy
and its tropical fruit sector recover, the United States
could provide new market opportunities for an increasingly
competitive Cuban tropical fruit sector.
The
U.S. Ag Trade Balance...More Than Just a Number (February 2004) explains
why the value of U.S. agricultural imports has been increasing
faster than exports, a trend closely tied to higher per
capita consumption of fruits, vegetables, and wine. The
article further discusses prospects for U.S. food imports
and the agricultural trade balance as the size, diversity,
and tastes of the U.S. population change through the decade.
Country-of-Origin
Labeling: Theory and Observation (January 2004) examines the economic
rationale behind the various claims about the effect of
country-of-origin labeling and indicates that mandatory
country-of-origin labeling would likely generate more
costs than benefits. Voluntary country-of-origin labeling
is an option, but food suppliers have generally discounted
the U.S. label as a quality attribute that can attract
sufficient consumer interest.
Regulatory
Barriers in International Horticultural Markets (January 2004) examines
the impact of multilateral trade rules on the use of sanitary
and phytosanitary measures applied to fruit and vegetable
imports. These rules have lowered many unnecessary barriers
to horticultural trade, primarily through requirements
that regulations be transparent and based on science.
Produce, Food
Safety, and International Trade (November 2003) reviews the private
and public responses to food safety problems of imported
produce by examining three cases: Guatemalan raspberries,
Mexican strawberries, and Mexican cantaloupe. Outbreaks
of foodborne illness associated with imports affect U.S.
consumers, growers of the contaminated product, and frequently
U.S. producers. While the three cases focus on fruit,
the lessons learned also apply to vegetables.
China: An Emerging
Market for Fresh Fruit Exporters (March 2002) examines trends in
China's fresh fruit imports during the 1990s. It finds
that China's imports of fresh fruit have increased so
drastically since the mid-1990s due in part to the country's
relaxation of trade barriers. With its accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in late 2001, China is
expected to further relax its trade barriers for imports,
providing market opportunities for global exporters, including
the United States.
Trade Issues
Facing U.S. Horticulture in the WTO Negotiations (August 2001) provides
an overview of issues affecting U.S. trade in fruits and
vegetables that are likely to be considered during upcoming
agricultural trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Tariff reductions, tariff-rate quotas, export subsidies,
and domestic support are discussed, as are the impacts
of anti-dumping and countervailing measures and the Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Agreement on horticultural trade flows.
NAFTA
Commodity Supplement (March 2000) analyzes the impact of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on the citrus, apple,
pear, peach, and grape sectors.
The
Role of Exports in the U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Industry (April 1999) details the expansion of fruit and vegetable exports during
the 1990s. The article found that nearly 10 percent of
fruit and vegetable supply was exported in 1997 and fruit
crops were more export-dependent than vegetables.
Competition in the
Canned Peach Industry (January 1999) analyzes the change in the competitive
position between Greece and the United States in canned
peach production and the role of government support—specifically
the European Union's Common Market Organization for Fruits—in
this change.
The Role of Trade
in U.S. Horticulture (March 1998) analyzes how global income growth
and market access encouraged export expansion of U.S.
horticultural products (including fruit, nuts, vegetables,
and greenhouse and nursery products), though the United
States remains a net horticultural product importer.
Import
Penetration in the U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Industry (November 1997) examines the extent to which imports have penetrated U.S.
fruit and vegetable markets in the 1990s. The article
found that 16 percent of all fruit and vegetables consumed
domestically in 1996 came from imports.
Barriers to Trade
in Global Apple Markets (August 1997) finds that the elimination
of tariffs and technical barriers to trade in international
apple markets would substantially increase U.S. apple
exports to Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
USDA
Lifts Import Ban On Mexican Avocados (June 1997) provides background
on the scientific basis for revising Q56, the Fruit and
Vegetables Quarantine, and how the revision will affect
consumers and producers.
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Consumption
Are Lower Income Households Willing and Able To Budget for
Fruits and Vegetables? (January 2008) analyzes the relationship between income and fruit and vegetable consumption by low-income households. Discrepancies between actual consumption and Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations are fueling interest in ways to promote more intake of fruits and vegetables, especially among low-income households. Could small adjustments to the buying power of low-income households increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables?
Understanding Fruit and
Vegetable Choices (November 2004) provides information on the economic,
social, and behavioral factors influencing consumers'
fruit and vegetable choices. USDA's Food Guide Pyramid
recommends 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables
daily, but current consumption levels of these healthy
foods do not meet dietary recommendations.
How Much Do Americans
Pay for Fruits and Vegetables? (July 2004) uses ACNielsen Homescan
data on 1999 household food purchases from all types of
retail outlets to estimate an annual retail price per
pound and per serving for 69 forms of fruits and 85 forms
of vegetables. Consumers can meet the recommendation of
three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables
daily for 64 cents. The data
used in the report are also available in Excel (*.xls)
spreadsheets.
Characteristics
of U.S. Orange Consumption (August 2003) examines the consumption
distribution of fresh and processed oranges in the United
States by demographics, income, and place of consumption.
Per capita orange consumption is greatest in the Northeast
and West. Seniors (men and women 60 and over) consume
the most fresh oranges, while children age 12 to 19 consume
the most orange juice.
U.S.
Consumption Patterns of Tree Nuts (October 2001) analyzes recent
USDA food consumption data on tree nuts (almonds, walnuts,
pecans, pistachios, cashews, and others). About 1 in 10
consumers eat tree nuts on any given day, and the amount
eaten is fairly small. About 60 percent of all tree nuts
are consumed in nut-containing foods, such as breakfast
cereals, desserts, baked goods, and candy.
Demographic
Profile of Apple Consumption in the United States (September 2001) examines the latest data on the distribution of fresh
and processed apple consumption in the United States.
The report finds that fresh apple use was most popular
in the Western region, while processed apple use was strongest
in the Northeast.
Consumer Demand
for Fruit and Vegetables: The U.S. Example (June 2001) examines
how income, an aging population, market promotion, and
consumer awareness contribute to increased fruit and vegetable
consumption.
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Marketing
Contracts, Markets, and
Prices: Organizing the Production and Use of Agricultural
Commodities (November 2004) reports that contracts are now the primary
method of handling sales of many livestock commodities,
including milk, hogs, and broilers, and of major crops
such as sugar beets, fruit, and processing tomatoes. Production
and marketing contracts governed 36 percent of the value
of U.S. agricultural production in 2001, up from 12 percent
in 1969.
Organic Produce,
Price Premiums, and Eco-Labeling in U.S. Farmers' Markets (April 2004) describes how the popularity of farmers' markets in the
United States has grown concurrently with organic production
and consumer interest in locally and organically produced
foods. This research, based on interviews with 210 market
managers, describes the significance of these markets
as outlets for many organic farmers, and recent shifts
in relationships between organic growers, market managers,
and customers.
U.S. Fresh Produce Markets:
Marketing Channels, Trade Practices, and Retail Pricing
Behavior (September 2003) synthesizes results of a multiphase project
that examined the dynamics of produce markets, produce
shipper-retailer relationships, and the relative market
influence of producers, retailers, and consumers. In the
past decade, retail consolidation, changing consumer demand,
marketing practices, and new technology have transformed
U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable markets.
Consolidated
Markets, Brand Competition, and Orange Juice Prices (June 2002) examines how consolidation in the marketing system affects
prices for orange juice. This report found little compelling
evidence that consolidated markets engaged in noncompetitive
pricing behavior. However, increased brand competition
does appear to lower average market prices.
Understanding the Dynamics
of Produce Markets: Consumption and Consolidation Grow (August 2000) examines changes in the U.S. produce markets from 1987
to 1997, including mergers, acquisitions, and internal
growth among grocery retailers, consolidation among food
wholesalers, and new packaged and branded produce that
are attracting consumers and vying for retail space.
Integration, Coordination,
and Concentration in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry (March 1999) describes the changing market structure of the U.S. fresh
fruit and vegetable industry: retailers purchasing a large
portion of fruit and vegetables directly from shippers,
farms and supermarkets growing in size, the wholesale
sector decreasing in size, and alternative forms of pricing,
such as rebates, slotting fees, and other allowances becoming
more common.
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