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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
December 1, 2000
U.S. Fresh Sweet Cherry Exports Reach Record Value in FY 2000
U.S. shipments of fresh sweet cherries in FY 2000 totaled
35,965 tons, unchanged from the volume shipped in FY 1999.
However, higher prices boosted the export value to a record $158
million, up 6 percent from the value exported in FY 1999. The
increase mainly reflects more sales to Japan, the largest market
for U.S. sweet cherries. Shipments to Japan in FY 2000 were up 12
percent to a record $101 million. Increased promotion efforts,
which emphasized the health benefits associated with eating
cherries encouraged more Japanese demand for U.S. sweet cherries.
Moreover, some new U.S. sweet cherry varieties, such as Seldom,
were sold in Japan for the first time in order to fill the larger
demand. U.S. sweet cherry exports also increased to other
important markets, including Taiwan (up 13 percent to $17
million) and Australia (up 20 percent to $2 million. Washington
state, Oregon, Idaho and Utah, benefitted the most from U.S.
cherry shipments in FY 2000. Reportedly, sweet cherry exports
from these four states added about $88 million to the regional
economy and created 4,900 new jobs.
U.S. Horticultural Exports Returned to Upward Trend in FY 2000
Total U.S. horticultural product exports in Fiscal Year (FY)
2000 (October 1999-September 2000) have bounced back to reach
$10.5 billion, up 2 percent from shipments in FY 1999. Fresh
vegetables, valued at $1.2 billion, led U.S. horticultural export
value gain, with an increase of 11 percent from FY 1999.
Shipments of fresh fruits (valued at $2.0 billion), processed
vegetables (valued at $1.5 billion), and wine (valued at
$550,000) were also strong, with increases of 8 percent, 4
percent, and 1 percent, respectively. U.S. horticultural exports
to Canada, the largest U.S. horticultural market, continued their
upward trend, with shipments in FY 2000 valued at a record $3.2
billion, up 5 percent from sales in FY 1999. Shipments to Japan,
the second largest customer, remained strong at $1.7 billion.
Mexico is now the third largest country market for U.S.
horticultural sales, with shipments valued at a record $871
million in FY 2000, up more than 30 percent from the value
exported last fiscal year and almost three times more than the
value shipped in FY 1996. Continued supplies of good quality
products, strong demand, and continued market promotion efforts
will likely boost U.S. horticultural exports in FY 2001 and
beyond.
Argentine Lemon Exports to the United States to Continue to Grow
Argentine lemon production is estimated up 7 percent in calendar year (CY) 2000. Argentina received approval to export fresh citrus to the United States in June 2000. Of the 5,000 hectares originally expected to be registered for export to the United States, only 2,438 hectares received final approval from SENASA and APHIS for export to the United States. Out of this total, Tucuman province had 2,200 hectares of lemons approved for export, Jujuy had only 38 hectares of oranges and Salta was approved to export fresh grapefruit from 200 hectares. Lemon exports to the U.S. reached 5,100 tons between July and August 2000. Industry sources expect that in 2001, lemon producers will pay more attention to the fields that were registered for export to the United States, which may result in increased lemon exports to the United States in 2001.
MAFF Considering Emergency Safeguard Measures Against Imported
Fresh Vegetables
On November 20, 2000, MAFF announced it is considering new safeguard measures on selected vegetables in response to rising low-priced imports from China and South Korea. The following vegetables are targeted for possible sanctions: bulb onions, welsh onions, tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms. MAFF is currently conducting a nationwide survey to assess the impact on growers from imports of these products in response to a demand for action from Zenno (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) and a growing number of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet members. If MAFF decides sanctions are warranted, the Ministry is expected to finalize details of the sanctions (tariff and quota levels) and notify the WTO within one year.
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