FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK -- SUMMARY October 2, 1997 October 1997, FTS-281 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 YEARBOOK will be available within a week following release of this summary. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Capita Fruit Consumption Up to 287.5 Pounds In 1996, per capita consumption of all fruit grew to 287.5 pounds (fresh- weight equivalent). 1/ U.S. fresh fruit consumption averaged 119.2 pounds for citrus and 168.3 pounds for noncitrus fruit. Most of the citrus was consumed as juice. Fresh fruit: Overall, fresh noncitrus per capita consumption rose less than 1 percent in 1996 after having fallen 3 percent in 1995. Since 1990, per capita consumption of fresh noncitrus fruit has been growing at an average of 1 percent annually. Per capita growth has been occurring most rapidly among minor noncitrus fruit. In 1996, fresh cherries grew 41 percent and plums/prunes grew 50 percent from a year earlier because of increased utilized production. Papaya consumption grew 49 percent, mangos increased 20 percent, and avocados increased 17 percent. U.S. demand for tropical fruit is met mainly through imports, with the exception of pineapples and avocados. Growth in U.S. demand for tropical fruit has coincided with increases of Asian and Latin American populations in the United States, as well as increased popularity of cuisines from other countries in the general population. Fresh citrus consumption increased 11 percent in the 1996/97 marketing year. Most of the increase came from fresh oranges, while fresh grapefruit consumption appears to have stabilized. Fresh-market grapefruit production was up 3 percent, and the U.S. industry is increasingly dependent on exports. Canned fruit: Total canned fruit consumption in 1996 was 18.6 pounds (fresh- weight equivalent) per person. Per capita use of canned fruit rose 6 percent in 1996. Canned olive, apricot, peach, and pineapple consumption more than offset declines in sweet and tart cherries, pears, and apples. Plum/prune consumption remained unchanged from a year ago. Canned fruit consumption estimates are incomplete since carryover data became unavailable in 1988. Consumption trends have an alternating pattern, increasing one year and decreasing the next. This fluctuating pattern can be attributed to lack of inventory data and exaggerates annual per capita consumption data. However, using a 2-year average to view the canned fruit data averages out inventory movements, revealing a downward trend in consumption over the last 6 years. Frozen fruit: In 1996, Americans consumed 4.1 pounds per capita, fresh-weight equivalent, of frozen fruit, down 11 percent from 1995. Frozen cherries, peaches, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries declined, while frozen raspberries and other berries (i.e., boysenberries and loganberries) increased. Frozen raspberry consumption was the highest since the mid-1970s. Frozen apple and apricot consumption remained unchanged. --------- 1/ References to the years in the text will vary due to the use of marketing or calendar year. --------- Dried fruit: Consumption of major dried fruit has been declining about 2 percent annually since the early 1990s, mostly due to declining raisin consumption. Raisin consumption, which fell 5 percent in 1996/97 accounted for over half of total dried fruit.The drop in raisin consumption came as more grapes were diverted to the fresh market or crushed for wine. Consumption decreased for apricots and figs and increased for dried dates, peaches, and prunes. Dried apples and pears remained unchanged. Total dried fruit consumption decreased to 11.1 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent) per person in 1996, the lowest since 1981. Fruit juice: Americans consumed 8.6 gallons of juice per person in 1996/97, down fractionally from 1995/96. On a fresh weight basis, juices accounted for 47 percent of total fruit consumed. Consumption of total noncitrus juices rose less than 1 percent from a year ago. Apple juice consumption increased 6 percent largely due to the big 1996 crop in Washington. Apple juice accounted for about two-thirds of noncitrus juice consumption in 1996/97. Grape juice consumption fell 17 percent in 1996 because of a smaller quantity of grapes processed to juice. Prune juice consumption also fell from a year ago, while pineapple juice consumption remained unchanged. Because carryover data are unavailable for noncitrus juices, per capita consumption estimates may be overstated. Citrus juice consumption was fairly steady in 1996/97 because a decline in grapefruit and lemon juice was offset by a 3-percent increase in orange juice. Domestic consumption of orange juice totalled 1.4 billion gallons in 1996/97. Despite abundant supplies of orange juice, retail prices remained firm throughout the year and limited increases in consumption. As a result, orange juice stocks are expected to be large going into the 1997/98 season. Grapefruit juice consumption fell 21 percent in 1996/97, despite a large crop. Florida's grapefruit juice movement was slow, and stocks remaining at the end of the year are expected to be high. Tree Nut Production and Consumption Up in 1996 The production value for all tree nuts fell 4 percent in 1996 from a year earlier to $1.7 billion because of reduced grower prices. Despite reduced grower prices for almonds, higher production increased the crop's value to $1 billion, the highest on record. The 1996 U.S. almond crop accounted for 60 percent of tree nut production. An "on" year in the alternate-bearing tendency of almond trees, as well as increased bearing acres, contributed to the larger crop. Production of hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and pistachios all fell in 1996, mostly due to the alternate-bearing patterns of the trees. The macadamia nut crop recorded the only other increase. Higher production and lower prices resulted in total domestic use rising to 590 million pounds (shelled basis), equal to 2.1 pounds per person. Domestic consumption was also boosted by a 9-percent increase in imported nuts, including Brazil nuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, cashews, and mixed nuts. Per capita consumption rose for pecans, pistachios, and other nuts, but fell for almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts. For walnuts and hazelnuts, decreased production coupled with higher exports led to reduced domestic use. Increased exports, as well as smaller stocks coming into the 1996/97 marketing year, reduced almond consumption even though the crop was bigger this year. For more information contact Susan Pollack (202) 219-0505. END_OF_FILE