By Henrich Brunke and Min Chang, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California.

Profile updated March 2011 by Diane Huntrods, AgMRC, Iowa State University.


History
Cultivation of peaches (Prunus persica) began in China as early as 2000 B.C. By 300 B.C. Greeks and Persians were enjoying peaches. In the first century A.D., Romans began cultivating peaches. From Italy, the cultivation of peaches spread throughout Europe and to the Americas, where the early settlers planted them all along the eastern coast. By the mid-1700s, peaches were so plentiful in the United States that botanists thought of them as native fruits.

Overview
The two basic types of peaches are clingstone and freestone. With clingstone peaches, the flesh “clings” to the "stone" of the peach, making it difficult to separate, and thus more suitable for processing. In addition, this variety retains its flavor and soft texture during processing. According to NASS (2010), roughly 80 percent of processed peaches are canned and 16 percent are frozen. Processed peaches may also be dried, prepared as baby food and concentrated for fruit juice. 

The pit of freestone peaches "freely" separates from the flesh, making it ideal for fresh consumption. Freestone peaches are generally larger than clingstones with a firmer, less juicy texture. While most commonly eaten fresh, these peaches may also be frozen and dried.

In the 1990s, flat donut peaches were re-introduced to the U.S. market. Donut peaches are super-sweet, with creamy, juicy flesh that could be either white or yellow.

Production
As of 2010, peaches are commercially produced in 23 states. The top four states in peach production are California, South Carolina, Georgia and New Jersey. California is a significant producer of both fresh and processed peaches, while South Carolina and Georgia mainly produce fresh peaches.  (NASS 2011)

In 2010 California continued to be the dominant peach-producing state, accounting for 72 percent of peach production and supplying nearly 50 percent of the fresh peach crop and more than 96 percent of processing peaches (NASS 2011).

The bearing acreage of peach trees has been declining since 1998; by 2010 the United States had 117,630 acres of peach trees in production. That year's peach crop was estimated at 1.2 million tons, up 5 percent from the previous year, and valued at $614.6 million. Of that quantity, more than 567,000 tons were sold as fresh produce and more than 564,000 tons were processed. Typically, the majority of processed peaches are canned (428,470 tons), while the rest are either frozen (104,400 tons) or dried (12,700 tons).  (NASS 2011)

The top producer of peaches is typically China, followed by the European Union (EU) and the United States. According to FAS, Chinese peach production increased in 2010, reaching 10.0 million metric tons (MT), as did the EU's production, which dropped to 3.8 million MT. China and the EU produce more peaches destined for fresh domestic consumption than for processing.

Prices
Grower prices for all varieties of peaches averaged $543 per ton in 2010, down slightly from $548 in 2009. That year, grower prices in California averaged $325 per ton for clingstone and $454 per ton for freestone. The average grower price for fresh peaches was $782 per ton that same year, and the average grower price for processed peaches was $303 per ton. The average price per ton for canned peaches in 2010 was $327 and the average price for frozen peaches was $266.  (NASS 2011)

Consumption
Annual per person consumption of peaches in the United States peaked at 13 pounds in the early 1970s. By 2008 annual consumption had dropped to 8.8 pounds per person. Fresh peach consumption actually increased to 5.1 pounds per person that year, and canned consumption decreased from 7 pounds per person in the 1970s to 3.0 pounds per person in 2008.  (ERS)
 
Exports
Of the major stone fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches and plums), the United States exports the fewest number of peaches. However, the United States is a net exporter of peaches and exported peaches valued at $179.6 million in 2010, a 15 percent increase from the previous year (FAS 2010). The top destination for U.S. peaches in 2010 was Canada, followed by Taiwan and Mexico. Most peach shipments from the United States to Mexico are for processing.
 
Imports
By value, peach imports in 2010 increased to $93 million. China was the main supplier and provided peaches valued at nearly $55 million. Other top suppliers were Greece and Chile. Most imported peaches enter the U.S. market during the off season for domestic consumption. Russia remains the number one global importer.  (FAS 2010)
 
Outlook
U.S. peach producers face several challenges: the high cost of domestic production, the effects of high levels of plantings a decade ago and the increased supply of peaches, especially low-priced canned peaches, from other countries. Higher production costs can be attributed to the dramatic rise in labor, energy, chemicals, fertilizer and equipment costs in the last few years.
 
 

Sources
Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2009.

Fruit and Tree Nuts Yearbook Spreadsheet Files, ERS, USDA, 2009.

Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA, 2010.

Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, 2011.

Trade Data Online, Industry Canada.

U.S. per capita food availability, ERS, USDA, 2008.

For more information, contact these USDA specialists:

• Fruit & Tree Nuts Subject Specialist, ERS, http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/Specialists/
• Peaches Subject Specialist, NASS, http://www.nass.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Ask_a_Specialist/index.php
• Fruits and Vegetables International Agricultural Trade Commodity Expert, FAS, http://www.fas.usda.gov/commodity_experts.asp

   

Profile prepared August 2002 and links checked March 2010.