True: veggie imports rising faster than U.S. production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest vegetable outlook report confirms the notion that imports have been growing at a faster rate than domestic production.
The report states that said U.S. production of commercial vegetables and dry pulses (including mushrooms, potatoes, and sweet potatoes) totaled 129 billion pounds in 2016, down less than 1% from the previous year.
On the other hand, fresh vegetable imports increased 10% in 2016, nearly double the 6% increase in exports, the USDA said.
The USDA said that the import increase created only a 2% increase in domestic vegetable availability - mostly reflecting canned tomato products - reaching 383 pounds in 2016.
The report said the import share of domestic use of fresh vegetables has nearly tripled in the last two decades, from 9% in the early 1990s to 26% in 2016.
The USDA said Mexico accounted for 74% of vegetable import value in 2016, followed by Canada with 13%, Peru with 4% and China at 1%. Fresh market import volume from Mexico, Canada, and Peru all expanded in 2016, while volume from China declined, according to the report.
The USDA said that excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms, the U.S. produced 34.9 billion pounds of fresh vegetables in 2016, down 1% from 2015. Fresh vegetable production is down 14% from the most recent peak in 2004, the report said. California accounted for a whopping 50% of annual fresh market vegetable production in 2016, followed by Arizona with 9%
Overall fresh-market vegetable farm value decreased 12% to $10 billion in 2016 due to lower prices for numerous vegetables.
Other highlights of the report:
- U.S. sweet potato production was 3.2 billion pounds, 2% higher than 2015 and a record high for the sector. Area harvested rose 7% to 163,300 acres, also a record. The USDA said “robust global demand” supported prices, with the 2016 average of $22.40 per cwt. up 3% from 2015;
- Total potato production in 2016 remained unchanged from the previous year at 44 billion pounds. Harvested area dropped 5% but yield rose to 437 cwt per acre. With prospective plantings for spring potatoes on the rise, the USDA said 2017 production is “on track” to exceed current levels;
- Total per capita availability of fresh vegetables (including potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms) averaged 188 pounds in 2016, up 1% from 2015, but about steady since 2008;
- Fresh vegetable per capita availability, excluding mushrooms, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, was up 2% t o 145 pounds;
- In 2016, per capita use increased for asparagus, bell pepper, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce and squash;
- Per capita use of cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, spinach and sweet corn declined;
- California output declined in 2016, but production in Florida and Arizona increased;
- Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, all lettuce, and bell peppers accounted for a 60% share of fresh vegetables available for consumption in 2016, about the same as previous years.
