Top Predictions for 2020 from Fruit Industry Pundits
December 31, 2019 The future is unpredictable. But there are always trends to indicate where things might be going. The fruit and nut industry, like others, always has its share of challenges and opportunities. What’s ahead for 2020?
Several contributors for American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines recently shared their thoughts.
Trevor Suslow, VP of Food Safety, Produce Marketing Association: The tree fruit industry will experience a number of FDA-483 Inspectional Observation warning letters resulting from FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) inspections related to Listeria and insufficient Listeria environmental-monitoring programs.
Trevor Suslow
In addition, there will be an explosion of global information from genomic, microbiome, and metagenomic surveys and mapping focused on produce production, including tree fruit and vine crops. While there is a significant fear factor among the industry for linkages created in food safety, on-balance there will be far more benefits from this new knowledge in traceability, predictive epidemiology, sustainability, and mobilization of beneficial microbes for quality management.
Also in 2020, the industry will acknowledge that while access to food safety know-how and best science must remain non-competitive, individual excellence in food safety culture and implementation is competitive and will be incentivized and rewarded.
Elizabeth Wittenbach, Wittenbach Orchards, Belding, MI
Elizabeth Wittenbach
Batten down the hatches as trade issues will continue to impact the apple industry’s bottom line. Without detrimental weather events, the U.S. is set to produce more than the domestic market will consume. The upcoming year will require especially prudent financial and investment decisions to weather the trade winds and position our operations for the next generation.
John Amarel, Reason Farms, Yuba City, CA
John Amarel
I see labor-saving technology, or growing practices, the focus of 2020. What causes evolution? The constraints and issues of today are going to cause the industry to change. In the past change was slower or gradual; however, I see changes on the farm happening faster. Higher costs with thinner margins mean every aspect of agriculture has to be as efficient as possible. Less time to get comfortable with new concepts can be stressful. As growers, we have to always be on point and active in every commodity we grow. Whether it’s regulations or new technologies, a firm grasp is one of the foundations for success. I suggest building your trusted network of sources to breakdown information quickly.
So what do you think lies ahead for American fruit and nut growers in 2020? Submit a comment below.
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