FRUIT AND TREE NUTS YEARBOOK October 19, 1998 October 1998, FTSr-284 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 are available from the ERS-NASS order desk. Call, toll-free, 1-800-999-6779 and ask for stock # FTS-284, $21. ERS-NASS accepts MasterCard and Visa. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fruit production increased 12 percent in 1997 from a year ago to 35.7 million tons. Noncitrus fruit production rose 14 percent, and citrus production rose 10 percent. Noncitrus fruit accounted for slightly over half of all fruit produced. Crop size increased for all fruit except apples, plums/prunes, lemons, papayas, dates, guavas, olives, avocados, and pineapples. It remained constant for limes and mangos. The 1997 crop was valued at $10.7 billion, 10 percent higher than the previous year. The value of the noncitrus crop increased 11 percent, and the citrus crop value rose 2 percent. Higher Production Contributed to Lower Grower Prices The bigger fruit crop in 1997 resulted in generally lower grower prices. The grower price index declined 8 percent from a year ago. The producer price index remained relatively unchanged for fresh, dried, and canned fruit but declined 5 percent for frozen fruit and juices. Consumer prices continued to rise despite the increased supply of fruit and juices. Fresh fruit prices rose less than 1 percent in 1997 after increasing an average of 7 percent annually for the previous 3 years. Consumer prices for processed fruit products increased 2 percent after an average annual increase of 3 percent from 1994 to 1996. Bearing Acreage Continued To Increase In 1997, total fruit-bearing acreage increased for the sixth consecutive year. Increases in citrus acreage accounted for most of the rise, as Florida groves planted into the mid-1990s to replace those lost to freezes in the mid-to late 1980s continued to become commercially productive. Among the noncitrus fruit, bearing acreage increased for grapes, sweet cherries, figs, nectarines, cranberries, dates, and papayas. Grape acreage in California increased 3 percent in 1997. Acreage increased for both wine and table varieties. Plantings of wine grapes over the past several years in response to the increase in the popularity of California wines, accounted for much of the growth in California. Grape bearing acreage also increased in Washington, Oregon, and Michigan. Per Capita Consumption Topped 300 Pounds Per capita consumption in 1997 of all fruit and tree nuts grew to 300.3 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent). Noncitrus fruit, such as apples, grapes, bananas, stone fruit, pears, and berries, accounted for 60 percent of the fruit consumed. About 42 percent of fruit consumption is through fruit juices. The major fresh fruit consumed by Americans are bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. These four fruit accounted for 66 percent of all fresh fruit consumption in 1997. They have maintained their share of consumption over the past 20 years despite the introduction of many new fruit produced domestically or imported. Fresh fruit: Fresh fruit per capita consumption rose for the second consecutive year in 1997 to 102.82 pounds, 4 percent above the previous year. This year's growth is the largest annual increase since 1992. Fresh fruit consumption has been growing at an average of 1 percent annually for the past 20 years. Per capita consumption declined for fresh bananas and apples because of a reduction in banana imports and a smaller U.S. apple crop in 1997. Consumption, however, rose for fresh oranges and grapes. A larger orange crop in California during 1996/97 and increased grape production in 1997, coupled with larger imports, increased supplies of both of these products in the marketplace. Consumption was up for all other fresh citrus fruit except lemons for the 1996/97 marketing year. Declining yields and bearing acreage in Arizona, because of disease problems, lowered the overall size of the U.S. lemon crop. While imports increased, they were not enough to compensate for the production shortfall. Grapefruit consumption increased as a result of a big crop and reduced exports for the year. Large crops of fresh stone fruit ( peaches, nectarines, plums/prunes, cherries, and apricots), and pears increased per capita consumption of these fruit in 1997. Increased imports of fresh pineapples and mangos boosted their per capita consumption. Canned fruit: Canned fruit consumption in 1997 totaled 20.4 pounds (fresh-weight equivalent) per person. Per capita use of canned fruit was up for the second year in a row, increasing 9 percent over the year before. Increased consumption of canned apricots, plums/prunes, sweet and tart cherries, pears, peaches, and apples more than offset declines in olives and pineapples. Canned fruit consumption estimates are incomplete since carryover 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 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 over the past 15 years. Frozen fruit: In 1997, per capita consumption of frozen fruit averaged 4.1 pounds, fresh weight equivalent, the same as in 1996. Frozen berry consumption, which comprises most of the frozen fruit category, fell 15 percent. Only frozen blackberry consumption increased. Frozen apple and apricot consumption increased, while cherries and peaches declined. Dried fruit: Dried fruit consumption fell 5 percent in 1997 to 10.8 pounds, fresh-weight equivalent. The slight rise in raisin consumption after 3 years of decline, along with dried apricots and figs, was not enough to offset the drop in consumption of dried apples, dates, and prunes. Dried peaches and pears remained unchanged. Fruit juice: Americans consumed 9.1 gallons per capita of juice in 1997/98, up 2 percent from the year before. Consumption of noncitrus juices fell 5 percent from 1996/97. Apple juice consumption fell 8 percent, most due to a decline in imports. Since the 1980s, imports have become an increasingly important proportion of apple juice consumption. In 1997/98, 60 percent of the apple juice consumed in the United States was imported. Grape juice consumption increased 5 percent in 1997, largely because of the 122-percent increase in Washington's grape production, about 81 percent of which is processed into juice. Cranberry juice consumption also increased from the previous year, while pineapple juice consumption declined and prune juice consumption remained unchanged. Because carryover data are unavailable for noncitrus juices, per capita consumption estimates may be over- or understated. Citrus juice consumption rose 5 percent in 1997/98 because a 7-percent increase in orange juice consumption offset declines in grapefruit, lemon, and lime juices. Domestic consumption of orange juice totalled 1.6 billion gallons in 1997/98 in response to abundant supplies and lower retail prices than a year ago. Despite the higher consumption, orange juice stocks are expected to be large going into the 1998/99 season due to the very large supply of orange juice through the 1997/98 season. Grapefruit juice consumption fell 7 percent in 1997/98 partly because of lower production. Tree Nut Acreage, Production, Trade, and Value Rose in 1997 The production value for all tree nuts in 1997 jumped to a record $2.0 billion, 22 percent higher than a year earlier because of higher production and good grower prices for most tree nut crops. Values increased for every tree nut commodity except macadamia nuts. Despite reduced grower prices for almonds, higher production increased the crop's value to $1.1 billion, the highest on record. The 1997 U.S. almond crop accounted for 61 percent of total 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. Besides almonds, record production was realized for hazelnuts, macadamias, pistachios, and walnuts. A large pecan crop was also harvested. Higher production and lower prices resulted in total domestic use of tree nuts rising to 590 million pounds (shelled basis), equal to 2.2 pounds per person. Domestic consumption was also boosted by a 14-percent increase in imported nuts, including Brazil nuts, pine nuts (pignolias), chestnuts, cashews, and mixed nuts. Consumption rose for almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, and other nuts, but fell for pecans and macadamias. Exports increased for all tree nut commodities except walnuts. Even though total disappearance (domestic use and exports) increased for all tree nuts, beginning stocks for the 1998/99 season are higher than a year earlier due to the record supplies available during the 1997/98 season. END_OF_FILE