USDA projects that peach and nectarine consumption will continue to decline in Japan

A new USDA report reveals that fresh peach and nectarine consumption in Japan is expected to decline due to their high cost and traditional diet preferences. The country's fresh peach consumption is projected to drop by 0.5% to 108,900 tons in 2024-2025, and total peach and nectarine consumption is expected to reach 110,300 tons, a 0.5% decrease from the previous marketing year. The report also highlights production challenges due to weather conditions and a decrease in planted areas, with the majority of peach cultivation in Yamanashi and Fukushima prefectures and nectarines mainly grown in Nagano Prefecture. The decline in planting areas is leading to land consolidation and the release of less productive land, despite a lack of young farmers to succeed the current generation.

A new report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that peaches and nectarines in Japan are consumed mostly fresh (approximately 90%). The fresh peach season starts in late June and lasts until early September. Household consumption of peaches and nectarines is primary, but Japanese people often perceive fresh fruit as expensive. In addition, Japanese consumers do not spend a significant portion of their income on fruit, as they consider it a treat and not part of the traditional Japanese diet. As a result, USDA expects Japanese fruit consumption, including peaches and nectarines, to continue to decline. Given the reductions in domestic peach production, USDA projected that Japan's fresh peach consumption will fall 0.5% to 108,900 tons in 2024-2025, down from 109,480 tons in the previous season. With a total of 1,100 tons of domestic nectarines and 300 tons of imported nectarines, USDA projects that Japan’s total peach and nectarine consumption will reach 110,300 ...