Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

China Gaining Access to the U.S. Apple Market?

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

After more than a decade, China may soon be able to export its fresh apples to the U.S. market, under a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The proposed regulatory change would give China access to the U.S. market - under certain phytosanitary conditions. According to the July 18th rule, “this action would allow for the importation of apples from China into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.”

According to analysis conducted by the USDA, if the proposal is accepted, most of China’s fresh apple exports would likely be shipped to the U.S West Coast, specifically, California. California is the largest market for apples from Washington state.

The USDA proposal says that the effects of the proposal would likely be for Washington and California apple growers, but specifically apple growers of the fuji variety, while effects on other apple growers are expected to be limited.

While some U.S. apple farmers are worried about what the proposed rule could mean for their business, U.S. government officials say that the deal could be mutually beneficial, allowing for potential expanded access to the Chinese apple market.  Comparatively, in 2012, China exported 3 per cent of its fresh apples, while the U.S. exported 30 per cent.

In 1999 China gave the U.S. permission to import red and golden delicious varieties. But since then, it has been limited access. In 2012, China shut down the U.S. apple imports because of China’s concern about post-harvest decay and disease.

The USDA suggests that the apple import volumes from China would be modest, not more than 10,000 metric tons, which is the equivalent of about 5 per cent of U.S. imports of the fresh apply market in 2012.

Comments on the proposal are due by September 16, 2014.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

Comments


Your email address will not be published