September 24 2007, 10:26

USA depends on fruit&vegetable imports more

USDA informs, due to the increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in the USA, its imports are increasing by high rates; imports have already exceeded exports twice as much. In 1990-92 the average annual volumes of fruit&vegetable imports totaled to $2.7 billion; in 2004-06 the imports increased up to $7.9 billion. The average annual vegetable imports reached $1.8 billion in 2004-06, fruits imports were worth to $2.5 billion.

Mexico and Canada are the largest suppliers of vegetables to the USA; almost 83% of the total imports are allocated to these countries. The main imported products are tomatoes, cucumbers and bell pepper. The volumes of imported bananas are the largest; Colombia, Ecuador, Costa-Rika, Honduras and Guatemala supply these products.

So the dependence of the USA on the imports of fresh fruits and vegetables increases year by year. The influence of this factor to fruit&vegetable business of Russia and Ukraine, the created opportunities will be covered in the presentations focused on the global fruit&vegetable market during the CIS largest fruit&vegetable conferences: "Fruits&Vegetable Business of Russia 2007. Wealth of New Opportunities" and "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2007. Meeting New Leader".