The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

The fruit and vegetable industry is an important segment of the U.S. agriculture. The 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census shows that the industry had total sales of USD 48 billion from over 10 million acres of land. However, over the last two decades, production of major fruit and vegetable crops in the United States has been declining while imports have grown significantly. The rapidly growing imports have posed challenges to the sustainability of the U.S. domestic industry. This study provides a systematic industry review of fresh fruit and vegetable production and trade between the United States and Mexico, by far the largest source of U.S. imports, highlighting the structural shift in the market over the last two decades and the caveats for industry sustainability. The analysis shows that Florida, Georgia, and California are among the states that face the strongest competition from Mexico. Among the 10 crops reviewed, berry, tomato, pepper, and cucumber production has been affected the most. The study further discusses the factors driving the rapid growth of imports and shows the importance of innovation and policy reform to the sustainability of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry.

Automated summary

The fruit and vegetable industry in the United States is important, but its production has been declining while imports from Mexico, the largest source of imports, have been growing significantly. This study examines the production and trade of fresh fruit and vegetables between the United States and Mexico, highlighting the market shift and the challenges for industry sustainability. Florida, Georgia, and California face strong competition from Mexico, and crops such as berries, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers have been most affected. The study emphasizes the importance of innovation and policy reform for the sustainability of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry.