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.
China Lifts Ban On Fresh
Grapes From Riverside County, California
On October 31, 2000, FAS was
informed that China had agreed to allow imports of table
grapes from Riverside County, California. The decision
was made following the effective Medfly eradication
program that was undertaken by APHIS in Riverside County
in 1999. With this development, China’s market is
now open to all commercial grape producing regions in
California. A phytosanitary agreement was finalized in
May 1997, which granted California table grapes official
access to China. However, only grapes produced in Kern,
Tulare, Fresno and Madera counties were initially allowed
access. King's County was added to the approved list in
the Fall of 1997. Since the market opening, China has
become an important outlet, with direct shipments valued
at $9 million in 1998. Although direct exports to
mainland China were valued at only $1.3 million in 1999,
increased sales to Hong Kong offset this decline. Exports
to Hong Kong, the second largest market for California
grapes, were valued at $50 million in 1999.
FDA Inspects Guatemalan
Raspberry Farms
Officials from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) were scheduled to visit
Guatemala’s raspberry farms between November 11- 20,
2000. During this visit, they were to conduct an
inspection of the public health situation regarding
raspberries and their shipments to the United States.
These inspections will determine if the firms’
facilities and operations are in accordance with current
good manufacturing practices regulations.
Guatemala’s raspberry exports fell sharply after a
cyclospora outbreak during 1997 was linked to raspberries
from Guatemala. During calendar year (CY) 1996, one year
before the cyclospora incident, the United States
imported $914,000 in raspberries from Guatemala. To date
(January - August 2000), U.S. total raspberry imports
from Guatemala are valued at just $33,000.
Fresh Blueberry Exports
Reach Record Value of $20 Million in 2000
U.S. fresh blueberry exports
were valued at a record $20.1 million for the first 8
months of 2000. The value of U.S. fresh blueberry exports
ranged between $8 and $9 million between calendar year
(CY) 1995 and CY 1998. U.S. fresh blueberry exports
almost doubled from $8 million in 1997 to $15 million in
1998. Strong demand in Japan and Canada fueled this
increase in exports. In 2000, exports to Canada, the
Netherlands, and Iceland have shown the greatest
increase. If current trends hold, Iceland may become the
fourth largest market for U.S. fresh blueberry exports
(compared to 14th in 1999). As a result of
this growth in exports, the North American Blueberry
Council (NABC) added Iceland as a new target market.
According to NABC, promotional efforts in Iceland will
include consumer and trade publicity efforts and the
possible development of an Icelandic language website.
Japanese Cranberry Market
Expands Rapidly
In the 1999 season (August
1999 - July 2000), Japanese imports of cranberries from
the United
States jumped seven fold to
approximately 80,000 barrels (3,628 metric tons), valued
at approximately $5 million (FOB) from the previous
season. Japanese industry estimates that imports from the
United States will increase to 120,000 - 150,000 barrels
in the 2000 season. The strong health benefits associated
with cranberries has ignited the sales of cranberry
juice, yogurt, pastry and candy products. Cranberries are
imported dried, frozen and as concentrated juice and are
exclusively sold to Japan’s food processors and
retailers.
Quebec Is an Untapped
Market for U.S. Wine
In 1999, wine sales in
Quebec reached $8.3 million cases, the highest in Canada,
yet the Quebec
market represents the lowest
market share for U.S. wines in Canada. Table wines sold
in Quebec
are primarily sourced from
France (34 percent), Canada (32 percent) and Italy (14
percent). Only 2 percent of Quebec’s wine sales are
from the United States. With per capita wine consumption
in Quebec at 14 liters, the highest in Canada, there is
great market potential for U.S. wines. FAS/Ottawa is
sponsoring the first ever marketing event in the Quebec
market and the first SIAL
show in North America on
March 4-6, 2001. The U.S. wine industry is encouraged to
participate in this show to take advantage of a promising
market opportunity.
Citrus Growers in Greece
Shift from Oranges to Tangerines
Orange production in Greece
is forecast to be close to 900,000 MT for 2000/01, which
is higher than average, but still lower than last year's
record crop. Tangerine production will increase again to
90,000 MT and lemon production is presently forecast at
about 140,000 MT. Orange juice concentrate forecasts for
2000/01 stand at about 15,000 MT. Greek citrus growers
were negatively affected by the 1996 EU citrus sector
reform because increased competition from other countries
and reduced withdrawal levels have forced them to send
increasing tonnages of fruit to the processing industry
at reduced prices. As a result of low profit margins,
farmers are putting less effort into maintaining orange
groves and refocusing on expanding tangerine production,
which is more profitable.
Canada’s Strawberry
Imports from the U.S. Projected to Exceed $75 Million
Early indicators point to a
20 percent year-to-year decline in total Canadian fresh
strawberry production during 2000, reflecting poor
weather conditions throughout the spring and early summer
that reduced the production potential in the main
strawberry producing regions of Quebec and Ontario. Total
Canadian strawberry production in 2000 fell to about
21,000 metric tons from 26,349 metric tons in 1999, but
increased imports of fresh strawberries from the United
States helped offset the decline in Canadian production.
Imports of fresh strawberries from the United States in
the current marketing year on pace to reach a record
level of about 52,000 metric tons, valued at more than
$75 million.
