We don’t get to talk about fruits and vegetables all that much, because it is just not a major component of the agriculture industry in our state. However, all of us eat, and we like to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that are grown by our fellow ag producers in more hospitable climates for those products.
Just like corn and beans, we must compete with other countries. Just like those who produce beef, poultry, pork, and dairy, we are having to face increased competition from countries that aren’t even friendly to the United States, all in the name of trade agreements. These producers also wonder why we are importing so much from countries like China, when we produce so much on our own.
BJ Thurlby is with the Washington State Fruit Commission. He talks about one area of competition the Pacific Northwest is dealing with, and that is pears. He says farmers are being hurt by the trade practices of our own government and businesses.
Thurlby says that there has been a very large influx of Chinese fruit coming into our country.
The pandemic did help bolster fruit sales for American producers, but as life has returned to normal, Chinese fruit has returned to our shores.
Thurlby feels that the future is bright for U.S. fruit producers in the long term.
However, until that future is realized, there are still boatloads of Chinese fruit heading to our shores.
