FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK--SUMMARY September 27, 1995 Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SUMMARY is published by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20005-4788. The complete text of FRUIT AND TREE NUTS (fts-274) will be available in 2-3 weeks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fruit Consumption Climb Stalled Total per capita fruit consumption was down slightly in 1994. Fresh fruit consumption was record high in 1994, but a decline in processed noncitrus fruit brought the total down. Per capita consumption is not likely to post a substantial gain in 1995. Although near-record citrus output is pressuring prices and boosting orange juice consumption, noncitrus fruit production is down in some western States and export demand high. California stonefruits, pears, and strawberries were damaged by storms early in 1995, bringing shipments down and prices up from the prior year. Fresh-market apple consumption is expected to decline in 1995 due to a smaller Washington crop and higher export demand stemming in part from reduced European apple production. Strong export demand for fresh oranges and grapefruit will likely continue, leaving less of the swelling supplies for domestic consumption. Total U.S. fruit consumption receded to 276.5 pounds per person (fresh-weight equivalent) in 1994, from 278.2 pounds the prior year. Declines were estimated for noncitrus fruit, which account for about 60 percent of the total, as well as citrus fruit. Processed fruit consumption is almost evenly divided between citrus and noncitrus--in 1994, 90 pounds of citrus fruit were consumed in processed forms (mostly juice) and 86 pounds of noncitrus fruit. Noncitrus fruit comprise 75 percent of fresh consumption. Total citrus fruit consumption rose less than 1 pound, to 115 pounds per person in 1994, as fresh use declined to 25 pounds and processed rose to 90 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent). Consumption of processed oranges increased to 75 pounds and grapefruit decreased to 8.8 pounds. Total consumption of other citrus fruit (lemons, limes, tangerines, and tangelos) rose in 1994. Noncitrus fruit consumption declined more than 2 pounds per person in 1994, to 161.5 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent). Total apple consumption rose slightly, to 49.3 pounds, but total grape consumption dropped more than 3 pounds, to 41.6. Although fresh grape consumption was up in 1994, most grapes are consumed in processed forms (mainly juice, wine, and raisins) and processed use was down. Processed grape consumption dropped to 34.3 pounds from 37.9 pounds in 1993. The volume of U.S. grapes used for wine and juice declined in 1994 and, although wine imports rose, consumption of wine grapes declined to 22.5 pounds. Reduced grape juice imports helped lower the consumption of grapes used for juice to 3.21 pounds. A decline in domestic raisin shipments brought consumption down from 8.75 to 8.28 pounds. Record Fresh Fruit Consumption Americans consumed more than 100 pounds of fresh-market fruit per person in 1994, a new record. Noncitrus fruit consumption rose slightly from less than 74 pounds in 1993 to 75.65, while fresh citrus fruit consumption declined to 24.93 pounds per person from a 10-year high of nearly 26 pounds in 1993. California marketed fewer fresh oranges in 1994 and consumption dropped to 13.1 pounds per person from 14.2 pounds the year before. Consumption of fresh-market grapefruit was also off, with a reduction in Florida output and strong export demand, but remained above 6 pounds per person. Most noncitrus fruit posted consumption gains in 1994. Bananas remained the favorite fresh fruit in the United States, as consumption rose to a record 28.1 pounds per person from 26.8 pounds the year earlier. Apples remained the second most popular fresh-market fruit. Plentiful supplies and stable prices in 1994 boosted apple consumption to 19.55 pounds per person, the highest since 1990. Increased imports of fresh-market grapes pushed consumption up 4 percent, to 7.33 pounds in 1994. California's enormous 1994 strawberry crop resulted in record high fresh consumption--4 pounds per person. Consumption of fresh-market pears rose slightly to 3.48 pounds, as the large crop pressured prices, stimulated exports, and curtailed imports. Per capita consumption of fresh-market peaches and nectarines fell about 10 percent in 1994, to 5.46 pounds from nearly 6 pounds the year before. Although California had good 1994 peach and nectarine crops, U.S. fresh utilization was down because of freeze-reduced output in some eastern states. In addition, peach and nectarine exports were record high in 1994, reducing domestic availability. Avocados and kiwifruit also registered declines in per capita consumption. Reduced California output that was not fully offset by increased imports caused the decline. Value of Fruit Production Up in 1994 The farm value of U.S. fruit production was $8.405 billion in 1994, slightly higher than the prior year. A small gain in the total value of noncitrus fruit was bolstered by a 4-percent rise in the value of citrus fruit, to $2.245 billion. The value of Florida's 1993/94 citrus output rose nearly 6 percent to $1.400 billion and California's to nearly $746 million. The value of noncitrus fruit production rose to $6.159 billion in 1994, from $6.133 billion the prior year. A decline in the value of the grape crop was offset mainly by higher values of strawberries and apples. Grape output was down slightly in 1994, the grape crush was down, and grower prices for table- and raisin-type grapes were lower than the year earlier. Consequently, the value of the grape crop dropped about $160 million in 1994. In contrast, more output and higher prices boosted the strawberry value by $150 million, while the value of apple production rose $63 million due to higher output and stable prices. Value of Tree Nut Production Slips in 1994, Production Reaches a Record U.S. tree nut production rose to a record 1.1 billion pounds (shelled basis) in 1994/95, up 13 percent from 1993/94, reflecting a large increase in the almond crop and a moderate rise in the macadamia crop. Hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and pistachios all registered smaller crops. The value of U.S. tree nut production dropped to $1.512 billion, down 12 percent from 1993/94. Significant declines in hazelnut, pecan, and pistachio nut production in 1994/95 combined with lower grower prices for almonds and walnuts to drive down the total value. U.S. tree nut consumption continued a 4-year upward trend in 1994/95, increasing to 2.27 pounds per person (shelled basis). Almond consumption rose to 0.55 pounds and walnut consumption climbed to 0.47 pounds. Reduced output and higher prices dropped pecan consumption from 0.53 pounds to 0.48. Lower production reduced hazelnut consumption, but pistachio consumption was stable. Printed copies of the FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK will be available in about 2 weeks. END-END-END