Export Markets and Tree Fruit Pt 1
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. Northwest tree fruit growers, like everyone else in the ag industry, is having to deal with challenges brought on by the coronavirus.
Northwest Horticultural Council president Mark Powers says the reopening of some Asian export markets is a good thing, but it’s not something that too many growers have felt much yet …
POWERS … “Not that we’ve seen, but not surprisingly. I don’t want to pre-criticize too heavily. We aren’t able to sell apples and pears to South Korea. That’s really a cherry market.”
But, what about China? …
POWERS … “The same could be said of China. The largest amount of product we sell to China is also cherries. We sell apples. We’re still selling apples. We sell some pears, but we’re still facing headwinds there.”
But, Powers says the tariff rates have come down, a bit …
POWERS … “Obviously, the tariff rate, we have an exclusion process and that’s positive. The tariff is now down to 25% rather than 60%, as an example, where it was last year at this time. So, good progress and interest on the part of importers to purchase cherries this year, so that’s looking good.”
And so, Powers says we hope things continue on this path to recovery …
POWERS … “And, you’re right, they’re ahead of where we were, right, in terms of recovery. So, we’re hoping that everything goes off without a hitch and we’ll find out, it’s cherry season.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on export markets for Northwest tree fruit and the shipping issues they’re dealing with.
