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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
July 13, 2000
Mexico Lifts Quarantine on California Plums
USDA announced that Mexico has lifted a quarantine on California
plums and will resume the importation of the fruit effective
immediately. In 1999, California exported 7,000 metric tons of
plums to Mexico worth about $5 million. At the time, Mexico was
the fourth largest market in the world for California plums.
Through negotiations with Mexican agricultural officials, APHIS
was able to reopen the market for California plums in time for
the 2000 shipping season. The market was closed after Mexican
inspectors at the border detected the Oriental fruit moth in
several shipments. Mexico does not have the Oriental fruit moth
and considers it a quarantine pest. The fruit will now be
exported under a management plan that requires a series of pest
mitigation measures that include trapping and spraying. In
addition, all California groves that export plums to Mexico must
be registered with APHIS.
Prune Production Forecast up 12 Percent in 2000/2001
The 2000/2001 California prune crop (August 2000 - July 2001) is
forecast at 181,436 tons, up 12 percent from 1999/2000. Bearing
acreage is estimated at 86,000 acres, up 4 percent from the
previous year. Virtually all of the prunes in the United States
are produced in California. The 2000/2001 prune season is
progressing well, with the major prune growing areas experiencing
a heavier fruit set than last year. On average, 46 percent of the
California prune crop is exported. To date (August 1999 - April
2000), the value of U.S. prune exports are down 7 percent to $101
million, compared with the same period last year, due to smaller
fruit size. Major export markets are Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Fresh Raspberry Imports into U.S. Continue to Grow
Fresh raspberry imports in the United States continue to recover
from the low reached in calendar year (CY) 1998. During CY 1999,
the value of fresh raspberry imports increased for the first time
in 3 years to reach $13.4 million, up 68 percent from the
previous year. Currently, the value of fresh raspberry imports is
up 9 percent (January through April 2000) to $6 million, compared
to the same period last year. Canada, Mexico and Chile are the
three largest suppliers of fresh raspberries to the U.S. market.
In 1999, total raspberry production in the U.S. was valued at
$93.5 million, up 33 percent from 1998. Raspberry production in
the U.S. is centered in Oregon, Washington, and California. On
average, less than 12 percent of the raspberries grown in the
U.S. are sold fresh.
U.S. Roma Tomato Exports to Japan Expected to Grow in 2000
During 1999 fresh U.S. tomatoes exports to Japan were valued at
$3.2 million and expected to grow dramatically this year to
approximately $7.0 million, with volumes reaching 2,000 tons of
romas and 1,000 tons of round tomatoes, according to Tokyo's
traders. Japanese growers are starting to grow U.S.-type
tomatoes, but the acreage conversion to these tomatoes will be
small, according to Ohta Market traders. Steady consumption of
U.S. round tomatoes continues at Japan's hamburger shops, pizza
restaurants and sandwich shops.
FAS Report on the EU Fruit and Vegetable Regime 2000
The EU fresh fruit and vegetable regime was reformed in 1996.
This reform allowed the Commission to tackle specific weaknesses
of the old regime such as the abuse of the withdrawal scheme in
some Member States. The new regime reinforces the role of
producer organizations, introduces the entry price system and
takes into account the Uruguay Round accord. The EU processed
fruit and vegetables regime was also reformed in 1996. The main
objective of this regime is to provide financial assistance
(production aid) to the processing industry. Neither the fresh
nor the processed fruit and vegetable sector was part of last
year’s Agenda 2000 reforms. However, the EU Commission is
required to review both regimes by the end of the year 2000 and
present recommendations to the EU Council and Parliament. At this
time, no major overhaul of EU support programs is expected. The
FAS report, which reviews the current system and how it is
applied, is available online at http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/
under Special Reports.
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