Fruit and Vegetables in the Limelight
Susan
L. Pollack and Gary
Lucier
Several hot issues—immigration reform,
diet quality and rising rates of obesity, and
U.S.
agricultural trade—and how they play out
may have significant effects on the fruit and
vegetable
industries. The industries are a key cog in U.S.
agriculture, accounting for nearly a third of
U.S.
crop cash receipts and a fifth of U.S. agricultural
exports in 2002-04. With increasing evidence of
the nutritional benefits from consuming fruit and
vegetables, the produce industry is also recognized
as being pivotal to the health and well-being of
consumers.
Fruit and vegetable growers are
closely following the current debate on immigration
reform. They are particularly concerned about the
effects of any new legislation on labor availability.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s
latest (2001/02) National Agricultural Workers Survey,
fruit, tree nut, and vegetable farms accounted for
two-thirds of all hired crop workers in the United
States. With an undefined but sizable portion of
this labor derived from foreign laborers, the stakes
are high for fruit and vegetable growers, who must
have enough labor at critical planting and harvesting
times. Fruit and vegetable production tends to be
more labor intensive than other agricultural industries
because such operations as thinning, cultivating,
irrigating, and harvesting require skilled labor
to avoid damage to tender plants, bushes, and trees
and to ensure the quality and appearance of fresh-market
products.
Growing public concern about the
quality of American diets is also drawing attention
to the fruit and vegetable industry. In their campaign
to reduce the rates of heart disease, cancer, and,
especially, obesity, public and private sector nutritionists
are increasingly emphasizing the need for Americans
to increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables.
The average American does not consume the recommended
5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day,
as suggested by the 2005 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans established by
USDA. For Americans to meet these recommendations,
fruit consumption would have to more than double
and vegetable use would have to rise by more than
a fourth, presenting opportunities for U.S. growers.
Consumer demand for greater variety
and more healthful choices in food has helped fuel
a rise in U.S. imports of fruit, vegetables, and
tree nuts. In recent years, imports have been increasingly
outpacing exports. While some imports directly compete
with domestically produced fruit and vegetables,
others complement domestic production and provide
greater opportunities for Americans to meet the
amounts recommended for daily consumption. For example,
during the winter, tomatoes from Mexico compete
with Florida-grown tomatoes; however, winter grapes
from Chile provide a 12-month supply of fresh grapes
in the market, complementing California’s
late spring and summer production. Other imports,
such as tropical fruit, expand consumer choices.
This
finding is drawn from . . . |
| Fruit
and Vegetable Backgrounder, by Gary
Lucier, Susan Pollack, Mir Ali, and Agnes
Perez, VGS-31301, USDA, Economic Research
Service, April 2006. |
|
You may also be interested in. . . |
|
ERS
Briefing Room on Fruit and Tree Nuts
ERS Briefing
Room on Vegetables and Melons
ERS Briefing
Room on Farm Labor
Understanding
Fruit and Vegetable Choices, by Joanne
Guthrie, AIB-792, USDA, Economic Research
Service, November 2004. |
|
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