FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK October 21, 1995 Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK is published three times a year by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20005-4788. FTS-274. Please note that this release contains only the text of FRUIT AND TREE NUTS--tables and graphics are not included. Subcriptions to the printed version of this report are available from the ERS- NASS order desk. Call, toll-free, 1-800-999-6779 and ask for stock #FTS, $18/year. ERS-NASS accepts MasterCard and Visa. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents Summary List of Tables Situation Coordinator Diane Bertelsen Voice (202) 219-0887 FAX (202) 219-0035 Principal Contributors Diane Bertelsen Agnes Perez Susan Pollack Brenda Toland Editor Martha Evans Design and Layout Wynnice Pointer-Napper Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board. Summary released September 27, 1995. The summary of the next Fruit and Tree Nuts Situation and Outlook is scheduled for release on November 14, 1995. Summaries and text of reports may be accessed electronically; for details, call (202) 720-9045. The Fruit and Tree Nuts Situation and Outlook is published twice a year and supplemented by a yearbook. See back cover for subscription information. Summary Fruit Production Value 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. Little change in California citrus output, a decline in Florida, and higher prices for orange juice, kept grower prices above the year earlier through most of 1994. The season-average on-tree price for Florida processing oranges rose to $3.98 a box (4.42 cents a pound) in 1993/94 from $3.46 (3.84 cents a pound) the year before, while the price of fresh-market California oranges rose to $8.14 from $7.80 per box (to 10.9 from 10.4 cents a pound.) Processed orange prices are likely to be relatively low over the next several years as new orange trees, planted since the last major Florida freeze in December 1989, come into production. Florida had 562,800 acres of bearing-age orange trees in 1994/95, up 41 percent since 1989/90. Total citrus acreage in the United States has risen from a low of 818,900 acres in 1985/86 to 1,052,630 acres in 1994/95, with Florida oranges providing most of the increase. Noncitrus area has been more stable than citrus2.032 million acres of bearing-age trees in 1994, compared with 1.949 million in 1991 and 2.002 in 1987as has production. 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. The value of the grape crop dropped about $160 million in 1994. In contrast, more output and higher prices boosted the strawberry value by $153 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. Tree nut production has increased consistently over the last 4 years, due mostly to higher almond production. . The 1994/95 crop year marked a downturn in a 7-year trend of increasing tree nut output value. The value of U.S. tree nut production dropped to $1.512 billion, down 12 percent from . 1993/94. Most tree nuts registered reductions. Significant declines in hazelnut, pecan, and pistachio nut production in 1994/95 combined with reduced grower prices for almonds and walnuts to drive down the total value. Grower price increases for pecans, hazelnuts, and pistachios were not enough to offset the impacts of reduced output on production value. A large crop and record-high almond supplies pressured grower prices and the 1994/95 season-average price dropped 36 percent from the prior year. The value of almond production fell 4 percent, to $894 million. A relatively small decrease in walnut production, along with high stocks, brought supplies up from the year earlier and drove down average grower prices 29 percent. The value of walnut production dropped 34 percent in 1994. Pecan value declined the leastonly 3 percent and less than $7 million as output dropped and prices rose. Of the six major tree nuts produced in the United States, only the value of macadamia nut production rose in 1994 as higher prices and output raised the value 8 percent. U.S. tree nut consumption continued a 4-year upward trend in 1994/95, increasing slightly from the year earlier, 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 dropped hazelnut consumption, but pistachio consumption was stable. Tree nut consumption has risen in the 1990s, averaging 2.26 pounds, up from 2.19 during the 1980s. Hazelnut, pistachio, and macadamia nut consumption has increased, almond consumption remained about the same, and walnut and pecan consumption declined. Record Fresh Fruit Consumption Americans consumed more than 100 pounds of fresh-market fruit per person in 1994, another 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 13.07 pounds per person from more than 14 pounds the year before. Per capita consumption of fresh-market grapefruit declined due to population growth, 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 Americans favorite fresh fruit in 1994, as consumption rose to a record 28.06 pounds per person from less than 27 pounds the year earlier. Plentiful supplies and stable prices boosted fresh-market 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. Californias enormous 1994 strawberry crop resulted in record-high fresh consumption4 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. Consumption estimates include citrus fruit harvested in 1993/94 and noncitrus fruit harvested in 1994. Per capita consumption of fresh-market peaches and nectarines fell about 10 percent in 1994 to 5.46 pounds, from almost 6 pounds the year before. Although California had good 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 declines. Canned Fruit: Total consumption of nine canned fruits rose slightly in 1994 to 18.33 pounds per person (product-weight basis) from less than 18 pounds the year earlier. Large crops harvested in 1994 raised the processing use and consumption of apples, apricots, cherries, pears, plums and prunes. However, reduced domestic output and imports lowered consumption of canned olives, peaches, and pineapples. Changes in canned fruit inventories have not been accounted for since 1988 when publication of carryover data ceased. Frozen Fruit: Consumption was stable in 1994. Estimates of four types of frozen fruit and four types of berries totaled 3.4 pounds (frozen-weight basis) per person. Increased consumption of frozen blueberries, apricots, and peaches was offset by reduced strawberry, blackberry, apple, and cherry consumption. Frozen berry consumption dropped below 2 pounds per person, as a 4-percent decline in frozen strawberries was not offset by a 4- percent gain for frozen blueberries. Dried Fruit: Consumption totaled 3.12 pounds per person (dry basis) in 1994/95, a 4-percent decrease from the year earlier. Raisin consumption declined to 1.72 from 1.86 pounds in the face of reduced domestic shipments. Prune consumption rose to 0.71 pounds due to increased production. . Fruit Juice: Consumption of eight fruit juices totaled 8.72 single-strength gallons per person in 1994/95, up from 8.60 gallons the prior year. Citrus juices totaled 6.27 gallons, up almost 5 percent from 1993/94. Orange juice consumption rose to 5.44 gallons, a 10-year high, as Florida production posted big gains. Apple juice consumption was nearly unchanged at 1.77 gallons, while consumption of grape juice and pineapple juice declined. Higher domestic production of apple juice almost compensated for a dip in imports. Grape juice consumption was down 17 percent to 0.29 gallon as imports and domestic output declined. A drop in pineapple juice imports, coupled with low Hawaiian production, resulted in a 17 percent decline in consumption, to 0.35 gallon per person. USDA's juice consumption estimates are based on the quantities of fruit used to make juice and are not likely to match estimates based on retail sales data. After initial processing, juices can be blended, used in other products, and repackaged before reaching the market. USDA methodology does not distinguish final product forms. In addition, year-to-year changes in noncitrus juice consumption are likely overstated because carryover stock data are not available. Fruit Consumption Climb Curtailed Total U.S. fruit consumption receded to 276.5 pounds per person (fresh-weight equivalent) in 1994, from 278.2 pounds the prior year. Consumption of noncitrus fruit declined, while citrus consumption rose slightly. In order to estimate total fruit consumption, processed products were converted to their equivalent fresh weight, which is an approximation of the quantity of whole fruit used to make the product. Noncitrus fruit accounted for about 60 percent of total (fresh and processed) fruit consumption and about 75 percent of fresh consumption. Processed fruit consumption is almost evenly divided between citrus and noncitrusin 1994, 90 pounds of citrus fruit were consumed in processed forms (mostly juice) and 86 pounds of noncitrus fruit. Total citrus fruit consumption rose less than 1 pound, to 115 pounds per person in 1994 as fresh use declined to 24.9 pounds and processed climbed to 90 pounds. Consumption of processed oranges reached 75 pounds per person, comprising about two-thirds of all citrus consumed. Consumption of processed grapefruit decreased to 8.80 pounds and of fresh-market grapefruit to 6.04 pounds per person. Total consumption of other citrus fruits rose: lemons to 7.46 pounds, tangerines and tangelos to 3.43 pounds, and limes to 1.21 pounds per person. 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. Fruit consumption is not likely to post a substantial gain in 1995. Although near-record citrus output continues to pressure prices and boost orange juice consumption, noncitrus fruit production was 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 will probably decline in 1995 due to a smaller Washington crop and higher export demand stemming in part from reduced European apple production. Export demand for fresh oranges and grapefruit has also been strong and will likely continue, leaving less of the swelling supplies for domestic consumption. END-END-END