The United States, Chile, and Serbia are highly competitive suppliers to the U.S. market for high value processed raspberry products, while Chile and Mexico are the most reliable suppliers, according to a new report by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).
The U.S. processed raspberry industry in Washington State was a high cost producer of premium products, accounting for about two-fifths of a more than $1 billion market during 2015-2020, according to the report.
The investigation, Raspberries for Processing: Conditions of Competition between U.S. and Foreign Suppliers, with a Focus on Washington State, was requested by the United States Trade Representative in a letter received on April 9, 2020.
Most production of U.S.-grown raspberries for processing occurs in Washington State, and to a lesser extent in California and Oregon. The primary focus of the USITC investigation was on the industry in Washington.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, reported on the industry competitiveness of major raspberry suppliers to the United States and U.S. market pricing dynamics. The Commission also provided a quantitative assessment of the economic impact of imports.
The USITC was asked to investigate processed raspberries, including fresh raspberries that are used as inputs for processed products. These berries come from both domestic and foreign sources and may be fresh for processing, individually quick frozen (IQF), or non-IQF (block frozen raspberries, purees, and juice products).
The USITC findings include:
The U.S. processed raspberry industry benefits from mechanization and a high level of vertical integration, while geographic concentration and high production costs limit its competitiveness.
The United States (Washington State), Chile, and Serbia were highly competitive suppliers to the U.S. market in terms of product differentiation, and Chile and Mexico were highly competitive in terms of reliability of supply. Mexico was the only U.S. supplier assessed as highly competitive in terms of delivered costs. Read More→
https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2021/er0709ll1796.htm
