A new USDA report reveals that fresh peach and nectarine consumption in Japan is expected to decline due to their high cost and traditional diet preferences. The country's fresh peach consumption is projected to drop by 0.5% to 108,900 tons in 2024-2025, and total peach and nectarine consumption is expected to reach 110,300 tons, a 0.5% decrease from the previous marketing year. The report also highlights production challenges due to weather conditions and a decrease in planted areas, with the majority of peach cultivation in Yamanashi and Fukushima prefectures and nectarines mainly grown in Nagano Prefecture. The decline in planting areas is leading to land consolidation and the release of less productive land, despite a lack of young farmers to succeed the current generation.