The American transportation industry might want to study the odds-on international shipping for fresh fruits and vegetables. For a variety of good reasons, recent years’ upward trends appear to go up at an even faster pace.
The USDA report titled “U.S. Agricultural Projections” and published in February 2021, shows a 2019 value of $22.9 billion for fresh fruits and vegetables imported to the US. That number is projected to be $36.6 billion by 2030. In 2021, the imported fresh produce value was $25.1 billion.
US produce growers have long been leaders in supplying their countrymen with healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. But they face climatic limitations, which swing open wide doors for producers in other latitudes. And now, water restrictions and severe labor troubles, coupled with skyrocketing production costs are posing more dangers for US growers.
Now, Mexico enjoys many advantages, providing 77% of U.S. fruit imports. That is why, although offshore production certainly faces rising transportation costs, aggressive investment by steamship companies and certain US ports to serve perishable foods are efficiently minimizing costs to keep produce affordable for consumers.
Source: ajot.com