U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports show slight decline

The 2020 value of U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports declined slightly, a new U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis shows.

The 76-page 2020 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook  reported the  value of U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the world reached $6.9 billion in 2020, a 2% decline from the prior year. 

The report said U.S. apple exports experienced the greatest drop, down $105 million from 2019 and accounting for more than half of the overall decline, with the largest losses in Taiwan, India, and Canada. U.S. orange exports had the largest growth, up $48 million on higher exports to South Korea and Canada, according to the report.

Apples, pears, peaches, citrus, table grapes, and cherries continue to make up nearly half of total U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports, the USDA report said.

Due to geographic proximity and climate, Canada remained the top U.S. market, accounting for 49% of total exports, or $3.5 billion, according to the report. Mexico came in second with 10% of U.S. exports, the report said, while no other markets had more than 7% share of exports.

Fruit and vegetable exports to China declined for the third year in a row, the report said, while South Korea saw a significant gain of $61 million.

Regulatory requirements, including pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) on U.S. fruits and vegetables that differ from those of the U.S. continued to challenge exporters selling to the EU27+UK and South Korea. 

The report said new growth markets for fresh fruit and vegetables include the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, and Peru.

During the last 10 years, the growth rate for fresh vegetables has been trending up on the strength of shipments to Canada, the EU27+UK, and Mexico, while fresh fruit exports continue to decline from their 2013 peak, primarily due to lower table grape, apple, and orange shipments.

Highlights of the fresh fruit and vegetable trade, the report said, include:

• Top fresh fruit export commodities included apples, grapes, oranges, and cherries, which accounted for a combined $2.6 billion, with top markets including Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
• Top fresh vegetable export commodities included lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and cauliflower, which accounted for a combined $1.2 billion, with top markets including Canada, the EU27+UK, and Mexico;
•  India imposed an additional 20% tariff on U.S. apples in June 2019, bringing the total tariff rate to 70%.