FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK October 21, 1999 October 1999, ERS-FTS-287 Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK is published annually by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20036-5831. This release contains only the text of the FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK -- tables and graphics are not included. Printed copies of this yearbook will be available from the ERS-NASS order desk. Call, toll-free, 1-800-999-6779 and ask for stock # ERS-FTS. ERS-NASS accepts MasterCard and Visa. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fruit Production Declined 4 Percent in 1998 Utilized fruit production fell 4 percent in 1998 to 34.3 million short tons. Production declines of most major noncitrus fruit, such as grapes, peaches, pears, and plum/prunes outweighed larger output of apples, tart cherries, strawberries, pineapples, and cranberries. Noncitrus production totaled 16.5 million tons, 10 percent below a year earlier. Citrus production, however, increased 3 percent in 1998 to 17.8 million tons as a result of a record orange crop for the year. Crop size was down for all other citrus crops. Total fruit production in 1998 was valued at $9.8 billion, 8 percent below a year earlier. The value of the noncitrus crop fell 11 percent to $7.2 billion. The value of the citrus crop rose 1 percent to $2.6 billion. Lower Production Contributed to Higher Grower Prices The smaller fruit crop in 1998 resulted in generally higher grower prices. The grower price index rose 2 percent from the year before. The producer price index declined 11 percent for fresh fruit, but remained relatively stable for dried and canned fruit and juices. Despite the decline in producer prices for fresh fruit, consumer prices rose 4 percent, increasing for the sixth consecutive year. Annual average retail prices were higher for Red Delicious apples, bananas, Anjou pears, lemons, and grapefruit, but lower than the previous year for Thompson seedless grapes and both navel and Valencia oranges. Bearing Acreage Drops Slightly In 1998, total fruit-bearing acreage dropped fractionally from the previous year to 3.2 million acres. The 2-percent decline in orange bearing acres, after 11 years of steady growth, accounted for most of the drop. Only lemon and lime bearing acres increased in 1998 for citrus fruit. Acreage, however, has become less of an indicator of the number of bearing trees for most fruit, as growers have changed planting patterns in recent years, planting trees closer than was previously the practice. Among noncitrus fruit, bearing acreage increased for peaches, sweet cherries, plums, prunes, strawberries, pineapples, cranberries, bananas, dates, and papayas. Grape acreage increased 3 percent over the previous year and accounted for 27 percent of total bearing acres. Apple acreage declined fractionally, although the number of bearing acres remained unchanged for the major producing States--Washington, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Per Capita Consumption Fell Slightly Per capita consumption of all fruit and tree nuts in 1998 fell 1 percent from 1997 to 296 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent). Apples, grapes, and oranges accounted for 65 percent of all fruit consumed. About 44 percent of all fruit was consumed as juice, up slightly from the previous year. The major fresh fruit consumed domestically continued to be bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. These four fruit accounted for 68 percent of fresh fruit consumption. Fresh fruit: Fresh fruit per capita consumption declined less than 1 percent in 1998 from a year earlier to 103.2 pounds. The slight decline resulted from smaller grape, peach, pear, and grapefruit crops than the previous year. Banana per capita consumption rose 3 percent and was at the highest level in at least 20 years. Bananas accounted for 28 percent of fresh consumption. Almost all bananas consumed in the United States are imported. Apple and orange consumption were also up. The larger 1998 apple crop in Washington and 1997/98 orange crop in California increased per capita consumption of these fruit by 4 and 5 percent. The smaller quantity of grapes available for fresh use reduced fresh grape consumption by 9 percent from 1997. Consumption was down for all other fresh fruit except pineapples, limes, avocados, bananas, kiwifruit, and mangos. Grapefruit consumption was down, as 11 percent of Florida's grapefruit crop was not marketed due to weak demand and low grower prices during the 1997/98 marketing year. Lemon consumption also declined, as increased imports during the marketing year were not sufficient to offset lower production. Smaller crops of peaches, nectarines, pears, and strawberries led to lower per capita consumption of these fruit in 1998. Higher demand for fresh pineapples, mangos, and kiwifruit increased imports of these fruit. Canned fruit: In 1998, canned fruit consumption totaled 17.2 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent) per person, down 15 percent from 1997. Consumption decreased for all major canned fruit categories, including apples, pears, peaches, and pineapples. Canned fruit consumption estimates are incomplete since carryover stock data became unavailable in 1988. Consumption trends tend toward an alternating pattern, increasing one year and decreasing the next. This fluctuating pattern can be attributed to the lack of inventory data. However, a 2-year average reveals a downward trend over the last 20 years. Frozen fruit: In 1998, per capita consumption of frozen fruit rose to 5 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent), 19 percent more than in 1997. Frozen berry consumption, of which over two-thirds was comprised of strawberries, rose 16 percent over the previous year. Almost all other frozen fruit consumption grew, with strong increases in blackberries, raspberries, and cherries. Dried fruit: Raisin consumption, which accounted for 59 percent of all dried fruit consumption, increased 3 percent from 1997/98, largely due to increased imports. Dried apple and date consumption rose 17 and 20 percent. Only dried fig consumption declined, while dried peaches and pears remained unchanged. Dried fruit consumption rose from 10.8 to 12.9 pounds per person on a fresh-weight equivalent basis in 1998. Fruit juice: Fruit juices account for the major form of fruit consumption in the United States. On a fresh-weight basis, Americans consumed 128.9 pounds in 1998, 2 percent above 1997 and the highest since 1983. On a product-weight basis, citrus juice consumption rose 9 percent in 1997/98. The increase was largely a result of the record orange crop in Florida, the major U.S. producer of orange juice. All other citrus juices showed reduced consumption. Orange juice accounts for 89 percent of citrus juice consumption and about 64 percent of all juice consumption. In marketing year 1998/99, citrus juice consumption fell 8 percent because poor weather conditions in Florida the previous season lowered orange production by 24 percent. As a result, orange juice consumption dropped 8 percent. Orange juice still maintained its 64-percent share of juice consumption. Noncitrus juice consumption declined 1 percent in 1998/99, falling for the second consecutive year. Grape juice consumption fell 32 percent. Pineapple juice consumption fell 17 percent because drought conditions in the Philippines and Thailand, the two major suppliers of pineapple juice to the U.S. market, reduced the amount of product available for export. Apple and cranberry were the only noncitrus fruit juices to show increased consumption for the year. Because carryover stock data are not available for noncitrus juices, per capita year-to-year consumption estimates may be over- or understated. Tree Nut Acreage Up, But Production Down As alternate bearing crops, tree nuts were in their off-season of the production cycle in 1998/99 after a record production the previous year. As a result, production declined 30 percent from 1997/98. Hazelnut and pecan production declined the most; only pistachio production increased and that was by only 1 percent. Despite lower total production, all but pecan and hazelnut growers received lower season-average prices. Large beginning stocks going into the 1998/99 season suppressed prices growers received for their new crop. As a result of lower production and lower season-average grower prices, the value of the crop totaled $1.4 billion, 35 percent below the previous year. The value of production was down for all nut crops, declining 65 percent for hazelnuts and 40 percent for almonds and walnuts. The value of the 1998/99 pecan crop was 32 percent lower than the previous year. Large stocks at the beginning of the season, along with a 2-percent increase in imports, helped boost total domestic consumption to 611 million pounds (shelled basis), equal to 2.2 pounds per person. Consumption rose for almonds, pecans, and pistachios. Use fell, however, for hazelnuts, walnuts, and other nuts that are imported, such as Brazil nuts, pine nuts (pignolias), chestnuts, cashews, and mixed nuts. Consumption remained unchanged in 1998/99 for macadamia nuts. Exports declined for all nut crops except walnuts. Because of the smaller tree nut production in 1998/99, beginning stocks for the 1999/2000 season will be 41 percent lower. END_OF_FILE