China: Fresh Deciduous Fruit
Cold spring weather limited China’s apple, pear, and grape production in key northern and western provinces. Post forecasts that China’s marketing year (MY) 2013/14 apple production will slightly decline to 38 million tons from the revised MY 2012/13 figure. China’s MY 2013/14 pear production (July-June) is estimated to increase by three percent to 17.5 million tons as south China pear production is expected to offset crop losses in the North. Post forecasts that China’s MY 2013/14 grape production (July-June) will increase by five percent to 7.8 million tons due to expanding acreage. While Washington State Red Delicious apple import permit suspension continues to thwart U.S. apple imports, market access for U.S. pears was obtained in 2013. Demand for U.S. seedless grape variety imports continues to increase.
