Tridge summary
Southern U.S. grapefruit growers, led by Florida producers, have successfully persuaded the USDA to apply a local juice standard from October 1, effectively banning most Mexican grapefruit imports until March 31, 2023. This period is crucial for offsetting the dip in U.S. production, which is already suffering due to hurricane damage and a significant decline in growth compared to 2021. The move is expected to increase grapefruit prices and availability issues for American consumers, and negatively impact the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship, potentially leading to retaliation against other U.S. commodities. Critics argue that this protectionist approach is detrimental to the entire produce industry, calling for a delay in the implementation of the ban to allow stakeholders to discuss juice requirements as part of a broader quality standard.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.
Original content
This is a guest column submitted by Enrique Gracia, president of Flavor King Farms BB #:288277 and chair of the Citrus Importers Coalition, which is affiliated with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas BB #:144354.There they go again.Florida produce growers have for many years exerted extraordinary influence to erect disruptive protectionist barriers against imported fruits and vegetables – particularly tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, blueberries and strawberries grown in Mexico. Most recently, they requested that the U.S. government initiate a Section 301 investigation on all produce from Mexico, though that petition was denied for lack of evidence. Once again, with the help of arcane technicalities and the muscle of their states’ Congressional delegations, grapefruit growers from the southern United States – especially from Florida – have succeeded in nearly shutting down the importation of grapefruit from Mexico.To accomplish this, the growers have leaned ...
Source: Producebluebook
Would you like more in-depth insights?
Gain access to detailed market analysis tailored to your business needs.
Related market data
What to read next
Read more relevant content
By clicking “Accept Cookies,” I agree to provide cookies for statistical and personalized preference purposes. To learn more about our cookies, please read our Privacy Policy.