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. 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.
U.S. Exports of
Horticultural Products Projected up in FY 2001
Exports of horticultural
products are forecast at $10.7 billion in FY 2001
(October 2000 - September 2001), up $300 million from the
FY 2000 estimate. This forecast assumes continued sales
expansion in the Canadian market and strong economic
growth in Mexico and several Asian countries. Increased
citrus exports are likely due to the expected size of the
U.S. orange crop and the initial opening of China’s
market. Also, wine shipments to Asia are again expected
to do well in the coming year. The estimate for FY 2000
remains unchanged at $10.4 billion. A larger orange crop
(and resulting expansion of exports) continues to offset
the impact of a smaller apple crop. Wine exports are up,
but record world supplies of almonds and walnuts has
resulted in another downward revision in tree nut prices
and thus total export value for tree nuts.
China Growing in
Importance for U.S. Wine Exporters
U.S. wine exports to China
jumped almost 250 percent from 1998 to1999 to reach $2
million, largely due to wine entering the Chinese market
directly rather than via Hong Kong. Last year, China
ranked 23rd as a market for U.S. wine exports, up
considerably from 66th place in 1990. Although China's
wine market is still in its infancy, it presents
long-term opportunities for expanded exports as urban
consumers are educated about U.S. wines. The market is
presently made up of inexpensive imported bulk wine mixed
with Chinese wines and expensive imported labels, and
lacks quality wines in the middle price range. A growing
middle class base and an increasing openness to imported
foods, combined with reduced tariffs following China's
entry into the WTO, could prove a winning combination for
U.S. exporters in the long run.
Japanese Imports of U.S.
Asparagus Reach 5-Year High
Japanese imports of U.S.
asparagus totaled 5,220 tons (valued at $20.1 million) in
the first 6 months of 2000, the highest level since
calendar year 1995. Sales were particularly strong during
the months of April and May, months typically dominated
by local product. Mid-to-late season U.S. asparagus and
Japanese buyers predict further growth during these
months as local production is expected to gradually
decline. Overall, the United States accounts for roughly
20 percent of total Japanese imports.
Pecan Production is
Rising in Mexico
Mexico’s pecan
production for marketing year 2001/02 (October
2001-September 2002) is forecast to increase to
approximately 59,000 tons, up 1.7 percent from 2000/2001.
This increase is due to planned increases in planted
acreage and new trees coming into production. Mexico is
the second largest pecan producer in the world. Pecans
are harvested in Mexico from October to December.
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 tons, 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 Trade Successes
Surpass $2 Billion in Fiscal Year 1999
On September 20, 2000, USDA
released its fourth annual Sanitary and Phytosanitary
(SPS) Accomplishments Report, highlighting more than $2
billion worth of trade successes in FY 1999. By removing
barriers to trade, APHIS has been instrumental in
opening, expanding, and retaining overseas markets for
U.S. agricultural products. USDA is dedicated to ensuring
that U.S. farmers and producers benefit from the
opportunities available in this new era of trade, while
also protecting the health of our domestic agricultural
resources. A total of 53 SPS-related trade issues
involving U.S. agricultural exports were resolved in FY
1999 with the help of APHIS and its USDA partners, in
particular the Foreign Agricultural Service, as well as
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the
Department of State.
USDA Extends Comment
Period on Proposal to Allow Fuji Apples from Korea
USDA is extending the
comment period on a proposal that would allow the
importation of Fuji apples from certified orchards within
approved production areas in the Republic of Korea. Under
the proposal, the apples would be imported into the
United States without treatment, but under certain
conditions designed to prevent the introduction of the
peach fruit moth, the yellow peach moth, the fruit tree
spider mite, and the kanzawa mite. Notice of this action
was published in the August 22, 2000, Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or
before October 23, 2000. APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register, and related information, including the
names of organizations and individuals who have commented
on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
For more information,
contact Dennis Hannapel, co-director of Asia and Pacific,
Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, USDA,
4700 River Road, Unit 140, Riverdale, Maryland
20737-1236, (301) 734-4308.
USDA Announces Plant
Health Conference 2000 in North Carolina
USDA is sponsoring a plant
health conference on October 24-25 in Raleigh, North
Carolina, 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. The goal of this conference is to talk about
cutting-edge technology that can be used to better
protect American agriculture from invasive species now
and in the future. 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 www.invasivespecies.org/plantconference/
USDA to Hold National
Summit on Agricultural Transportation
USDA announced on September
13, 2000, that it will host a national summit on
Agricultural Transportation Challenges for the 21st
Century, Nov. 28-29 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport
Hotel, in St. Louis, Mo. The summit was originally
scheduled to take place Oct. 2-3. 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.
This summit represents the culmination of several years'
work by USDA on transportation issues.
At the National Agricultural
Transportation Summit in Kansas City, Missouri in 1998,
USDA introduced the broad array of transportation issues
being faced by U.S. agriculture as it enters the 21st
century. Since that time, USDA has worked closely with
shippers, farmers and other industry representatives to
further identify the long-term transportation needs of
U.S. agriculture and with transportation experts to
anticipate the transportation services and infrastructure
available to U.S. agriculture should current trends
continue.
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
FDA Launches National
Food Safety Education Month Efforts
FDA’s Office of
Regulatory Affairs is awarding food safety program grants
totaling $350,000 to various state and local health
agencies. The funds will be used to enhance state and
local programs that are developed at the federal level.
To learn more about National Food Safety Education Month,
consumers can call 877-727-FOOD toll-free for a recorded
message hotline set up by FDA’s Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition and USDA’s Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS).
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/info/index.htm
