U.S. peach and nectarine production for 2023/24 is forecast down to 574,000 metric tons. Production has been fairly stable during the last 5 years, range‐bound between 650,000‐710,000 tons, but weather events in top producing states will drive supplies below this range in 2023/24. California’s peach crop is expected to decline as substantial rain and cool temperatures delayed and extended the bloom, while damaging March freezes following early blooms are forecast to slash production in South Carolina and Georgia.
The 2023/24 forecast continues a downward trend that started in 2011/12. Output fell below 1.0 million tons in 2013/14 for the first time in decades where it has since remained. U.S. output declined over 30 percent between 2013/14 and 2022/23, with volumes dropping 300,000 tons to 650,000. Production has been slipping in all growing states, but the most significant decline has been in California, with combined peach and nectarine production down 200,000 tons during that time. According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), California accounts for an average 80 percent of U.S. output, and nearly 100 percent of peaches for processing.
Declining demand for processing peaches has driven the drop in peach production, particularly in Clingstone peaches. Used almost exclusively for processing, volumes of Clingstone have plunged 43 percent in volume. In addition, 2022/23 California nectarine production fell below 100,000 tons for the first time since the early 1970’s on crop damage from rain, hail, and near‐freezing temperatures.
Click here to read the full report.
Source: fas.usda.gov