The projected 16% drop in orange production in the state of Florida in the 2015-16 season will drive up the international price of fruit concentrate.
The Department of Agriculture reported that orange production in Florida will be reduced by up to 90 million cases in the 2015-2016 season, 16% less than in the previous season, when 96.8 million cases were produced.
In order to prevent entry of the medfly pest into the United States, products such as avocado, lemon, orange, papaya and mango may not be imported from Dominican Republic.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The United States has restricted the entry of Dominican fruits and vegetables in order to avoid the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) coming into the country , according to a statement from the Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service at he Department of Agriculture (APHIS).
Fruits and vegetables, followed by baby food, milk and soy milk are the organic products in demand.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Given the continuing concern about food safety, consumers in Hong Kong are seeking safer and high quality options such as those that can be found in the organic sector, since they are perceived as being more natural and nutritious compared to conventional foods.
Due to the contraction in domestic production, it is estimated that by the end of the year beef imports will have risen by 19% compared to 2013.
From statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
An increase is expected in imports of beef in the United States
According to data from the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is expected that imports of beef at the end of the year will have a total volume of about 2.684 million pounds, which represents a increase of 19% compared to 2013. The USDA also estimates that this behavior could be maintained for 2015 and the year could end with an increase of 0.6%.
An announcement has been made that the South American country has been authorized to export a type of beef produced without hormones or antibiotics, endorsed by the Department of Agriculture.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (Procomer):
The Department of Agriculture (USDA has authorized Uruguay to deliver a new meat product, according to the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) of this country, Tabaré Aguerre.
Authorization has been given for the purchase of 550,000 tons of sugar cane and 100,000 tons of sugar beet for the current season.
The new allocation established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), represents an increase of about 50% on the existing quota of 1.32 million tonnes.
"Among the reasons for the increase of the quota, is the reduction of local production and the abrupt change in market conditions since sugar mills in the United States initiated a trade dispute with Mexico two months ago. Since filing the complaint against the Mexican plants in late March, local prices have gone up by 16%... ".
The Philippines have now received phytosanitary permits to export fresh mangoes to the United States from other regions in the country.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
The Philippines intends to increase mango exports to the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has permitted only the export of Philippine mangoes from the Guimaras Island, an island province in the Western Visayas region.
Two new programs propose verification regulations on foreign suppliers for importers of food used for human and animal consumption.
The new rules proposed by the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA), is in the process of public review and comment for a period of 120 days.
The first set of rules "... would require U.S. importers to verify that their suppliers produce foods that meet U.S.
An announcement has been made of new nutritional standards to be implemented in schools across the country, which include foods groups such as whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and protein.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, Tom Vilsack, announced that under new nutrition standards to be applied in schools across the country, Smart Snacks in School, students will have a greater choice of healthy foods.
The USDA has created a website that provides detailed information on the approval process for exporting fruits and vegetables to the U.S. market.
With the aim of increasing the public access in the process of approvals for the importation of fresh produce to the U.S., the USDA has created a new website to provide greater transparency in the various stages of this procedure, according to a newsletter issued by this entity.
Agricultural analysts fear falling prices, and meat importers, potential health consequences.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed a fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), popularly known as mad cow disease in a dairy cow in central California, reported the AFP.
"Agricultural analysts stressed that this issue is ‘not positive’ for the price of corn, the cereal consumed by cattle.