Author
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Takeda, Fumiomi |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2009 Publication Date: 3/17/2009 Citation: Takeda, F. 2009. North American berry industries and research areas [abstract]. Defining Needs of Berry Industries. European Sciene Foundation COST 863. p. 8-10. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The farm gate value of small fruit crops in North America has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Much of this increase is due to increased consumption for health benefits. Small fruits are rich in antioxidants which help prevent adverse effects of aging, cancer, and heart diseases. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service in 2007, there were 120,000 ha in berry crops (blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, currants, red raspberry, and strawberry) valued at $3.23 billion, which was 20 percent of the total farm gate value for noncitrus fruit and nut crops produced in the United States. The four leading berry crops were strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and red raspberries with a farm gate value of $1.89 billion, $0.54 billion, $0.44 billion, and $0.28 billion, respectively. Currently, 80 percent of the acreage (25,000 ha in 2008) in strawberries are in California and Florida. These two states produce 93 percent of strawberries sold through fresh market channels. The total annual domestic consumption and exports of fresh market strawberries now total nearly 900,000 metric tons. The processed strawberry industry (more than 90 percent in California) has a farm gate value of $0.16 billion. In the U.S., there are 27,350 ha planted in highbush blueberries. Major production states are Michigan (8,500 ha), Georgia (4,300 ha), and New Jersey (3,400 ha). In addition, more than 1,500 ha of blueberries are cultivated in each of the following states: North Carolina, Florida, Oregon, Mississippi, and Washington. Nationally, the blueberry acreage has expanded to 27,500 ha, up 3,000 ha from just 3 years ago. The expansion has occurred rapidly in Florida and Georgia (Southeast), California, and Oregon and Washington (Pacific Northwest). In 2008, cranberry generated $444 million in farm gate value, up $16 million from 2006. There are 17,000 ha of cranberries, and production reached 346,000 MT in 2008. The major producing states are Wisconsin and Massachusetts, with more than 80 percent of domestic production, followed by New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. Frozen and processed red raspberries are grown in Oregon and Washington (5,000 ha), and generate $0.10 billion in farm gate value. Red raspberries for fresh market are produced on 1,500 ha in California and generate about $200 million annually in farm gate value. Small fruit production statistics are compiled by the Statistics Canada. Major production areas are in several of the eastern provinces and in British Columbia. Blueberry is the leading small fruit crop in Canada (lowbush type in the Maritime Provinces and highbush type in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia). The blueberry acreage in these provinces should increase steadily. Although the acreage statistics for each province are not available, cranberry acreage has increased by more than 50 percent in the last 7 years. From 2007 to 2008, strawberry and raspberry acreage decreased in all production areas. Official acreage or value statistics for berry production in Mexico are not available. The two major strawberry production areas for strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are in the highland states of Michoacan and Jalisco in central Mexico and in the northern state of Baja California along the Pacific coast. According to data compiled by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service which is available on the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News website (www.marketnews.usda.gov/porta/fv), fresh market imports of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry have increased dramatically since 2003. Strawberry imports from Mexico account for 6 percent of the total consumed in the United States. Most of the increase is from shipments during November through February. The combination of cultivars developed in California and new production techniques have greatly increased |
