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September 22, 2000
Pacific Northwest Cherry Shipments To Australia Exceed Expectations
Fresh sweet cherry exports to Australia from the states of
Washington, Oregon, and Idaho topped more than 28,000 20-lb.
carton equivalents through the end of the shipping season on July
30, 2000. These deliveries exceeded all expectations, especially
considering that Australian authorities did not approve shipments
until June 15, 2000, almost three weeks into the harvest season.
Reports from the cherry industry representative in Australia
indicate that retailers were highly pleased with the quality of
fruit sent and are looking forward to next season.
Vegetable Production in New Zealand up, Prices Down
The farmgate value of vegetables sold in New Zealand reached a record NZ $517 million, or U.S. $222 million. However, according to industry estimates, increased acreage, excellent growing conditions and high yields led to depressed market prices for the onion and the potato industry in 1999/2000. It is estimated that due to the current lower produce prices, as many as 20 percent of commercial growers may leave the industry. Production of some key green vegetables, including broccoli and lettuce, increased as acreage expanded. This again led to a general trend of lower prices.
Austrian Fruit Production on the Rise
Austrian fruit production is around 700,000 MT, half of which
are apples. The production value of fruits is usually in the
range of AS 3.1-3.2 billion (approximately U.S. $230 million) ,
which accounts for 10 percent of total agricultural production.
In view of accession to the European Union and hopes for larger
market opportunities, area under commercial production has risen
between 1994 and 1997 (last survey) by 13 percent.
Japan Approves All Varieties of U.S. Nectarines
On August 30, 2000, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture
(MAFF) lifted the phytosanitary ban on the remaining varieties of
U.S. nectarines. In the late 1980's MAFF approved 10 varieties.
The Japanese fresh nectarine market remains fairly small with a
wholesale value of about $10 million. Japan’s access to the
new varieties from the United States, particularly the white
flesh types will open new business opportunities for U.S.
nectarine exporters. Approximately, 2,000 cartons of the new
varieties are expected to be sold this season.
USDA Announces Plant Health Conference 2000 in North Carolina
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a plant health conference on October 24-25, 2000 in Raleigh, N.C., to discuss the detection and monitoring of invasive species in the United States. Industry representatives and the scientific community as well as federal and state regulatory officials are invited to attend this first-ever, USDA-sponsored plant health conference. During the two-day conference, participants will have the opportunity to listen to a number of keynote speakers, share ideas, and generate innovative scientific strategies. The conference also will provide a forum to forge new partnerships between industry, the scientific community, and regulatory agencies. The registration fee for this first plant health conference has been waived. For registration and location information contact Catherine Channell with USDA, APHIS, at (301) 663-0342 or e-mail her at catherine.a.channell@usda.gov. Information is available online at http://www.invasivespecies.org/plantconference/
USDA to Hold National Summit on Agricultural Transportation
USDA will host a national summit on Agricultural Transportation Challenges for the 21st Century on November 28-29, 2000 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, in St. Louis, Missouri. The summit was originally scheduled to take place October 2-3, 2000. At the summit, USDA will highlight long-term agricultural transportation challenges and consider how those challenges can be addressed through a long-term agricultural transportation strategy. Experts will present the results of research on the long-term transportation needs of U.S. agriculture and the long-term availability of transportation infrastructure and services for agricultural shippers. The summit is open to the public. There will be a registration fee of $75 to cover the cost of materials and meals. A tentative agenda, registration form, and hotel information are available on the web at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/summit
Glickman Announces Workshop for Limited Resource Farmers
USDA will hold a marketing outreach workshop for limited resource farmers October 31-November 2, 2000 at the Doubletree Hotel Conference Center in Modesto, California. The workshop will feature breakout sessions on: Contracting Opportunities and Dealing with Wholesalers; Food Quality and Safety; PACA Rights and Small Farmers; Federal Procurement Programs; Marketing Cooperatives; and Access to Export Markets. Additional topics include Agroforestry and Other Crops; Livestock; Agritourism and Value-Added; and Direct Consumer Marketing. The marketing workshop is a joint effort with California State University, University of California-Small Farms Program, University of California Cooperative Extension Service, Modesto Junior College, and Stanislaus County. For information, visit the workshop website at: http://marketingoutreach.usda.gov
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