Smaller Fruit Harvest Lifts Value

WASHINGTON - Jul 7/04 - SNS -- The total quantity of non-citrus fruit consumed in the United States in 2003 was down from the previous year, but the total value of the crop was higher, according to the USDA's annual report.

In 2003, the Nation's utilized production of the leading non-citrus fruit crops totaled 16.6 million tons, down 3% from the 2002 utilized production. Utilized production increased from 2002 for apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries, California raspberries, sweet cherries, tart cherries, cranberries, kiwifruit, olives, pears, California plums, California prunes, prunes & plums, and strawberries.

The value of utilized production for non-citrus fruit crops totaled 8.49 billion dollars, up 4% from 2002. The value of apples and strawberries increased 13% and 14%, respectively, from the previous year. However, the value of grapes decreased 9% and peaches lost 6% from 2002.

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