Jan 23, 2008

2007 Noncitrus Fruit Utilized Production Down 1 Percent, Value Up 5 Percent

In 2007, the Nation’s utilized production of the leading noncitrus fruit crops totaled 16.6 million tons, down 1 percent from the 2006 utilized production, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Utilized production decreased from 2006 for California prunes, prunes and plums (Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington), loganberries, California all raspberries, California plums, Oregon black raspberries, California kiwifruit, cranberries, California dates, red raspberries and apples.

The value of utilized production for noncitrus fruit crops totaled $11 billion, up 5 percent from 2006. The value of utilized production for apricots increased 45 percent, California dates are up 29 percent, red raspberries are up 29 percent, sweet cherries increased 25 percent, and tart cherries are up 24 percent. However, the utilized value of production for Oregon black raspberries decreased 63 percent, California prunes are down 58 percent, prunes and plums (Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington) decreased 43 percent, boysenberries decreased 35 percent, nectarines decreased 29 percent, and Oregon blackberries are down 21 percent.

Highlights

Utilized apple production for 2007 is estimated at 9.30 billion pounds, down 6 percent from 2006. Utilized apple production in Washington decreased 4 percent to 5.40 billion pounds from 2006. Michigan’s utilized production decreased 10 percent from 2006, while utilized production in New York increased 2 percent from 2006. A change in varieties produced was the primary reason for the reduction in Washington production with more growers switching from the Red Delicious variety. In New York, hailstorms damaged some of the crop; however, apple numbers and quality were high. Low summer precipitation levels in Michigan reduced fruit sizes but fruit quality remained high. A severe frost decimated orchards in the Southeast and Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. Reports of tree damage and total crop loss were common in these states.

Utilized grape production for 2007 totaled 6.73 million tons, up 6 percent from the 2006 crop. The California crop, which accounts for 88 percent of the 2007 U.S. utilized grape production, is up 3 percent from the previous year. Also for California, wine type production increased 1 percent, while table type and raisin type production rose 5 percent and 6 percent from 2006, respectively. Utilized production increased from 2006 in all grape states except Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia. In the south, a freeze Easter weekend damaged grape vines, reducing the crop in many southern states.

Utilized peach production in 2007 is estimated at 1.10 million tons, up 12 percent from the previous year but 4 percent below 2005. The California crop, accounting for 85 percent of the U.S. utilized peach production, is up 31 percent from 2006. For California, the Clingstone utilized production is up 40 percent and the Freestone utilized production is up 22 percent from 2006. Cold temperatures in early April damaged peach orchards in the Atlantic states from New York to Georgia, with the southeastern states being affected the most.

Utilized pear production for 2007 is 879,850 tons, up 6 percent from the previous year. Washington, the top producing State, utilized 409,000 tons, up 13 percent from 2006. California, the second largest producer at 243,000 tons, is up 6 percent from the previous season. Utilized pear production in Oregon, the third largest producing State, is 207,000 tons, down 4 percent from 2006.

Read the full report here.