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November 2003, World Apple Report Highlights

Apple Availability Highly Variable by Region
This article highlights the tremendous variation in the availability of fresh apples for food in different continents and countries. While many European countries have high apple availability, there are some surprises among the top ten in the world. Per capita supplies are low in some of the most populous countries and relatively low in some of the richest countries. The apple industry needs to develop a strategy for selecting the most promising countries for future demand expansion efforts.

Failure of WTO Cancun Ministerial Marks Historic Power Swing
The breakdown of the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun was not just another squabble among major trading nations. It marked the emergence of countries like Brazil, China and India as key players in future trade negotiations. Between 1945 and 1970, the U.S. dominated trade liberalization efforts. In the next quarter century, the EU became an increasingly important counterweight to the U.S., especially on agricultural trade. Japan generally sided with the EU. Whatever these countries agreed to, tended to happen. Now the developing countries led by Brazil, China and India are willing to use their new found clout. The WTO will have to find new ways to make decisions in face of these power shifts.

How Many Growers are Enough?
There is much concern in agriculture around the world about the falling number of growers, packers, shippers, marketers, distributors, processors, wholesalers, retailers, etc. This article argues that the optimum number of entities in agriculture will be determined on the demand side by the total volume of apples consumers wish to consume and on the supply side by the size of operation that is viable under prevailing business conditions. Many market forces are combining to reduce that optimum number. How many growers or packers or processors is enough is not something that can be easily socially engineered in the face of such market forces.

Special Statistics
World: Supply of Apples for Food, by Continent, 2001. (chart)
Countries with Highest Supply of Apples for Food. (chart)
Taiwan: Change in Import Sources of Fresh Apples, 1996-2002. (chart)
Russian Federation: Imports of Major Fresh Fruits, 1997-2003. (table)

The authoritative guide to the world apple business today.

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