Exports of California food products took a dive in August, with fruit and tree nuts decreasing by 8 percent when compared to the same time last year and vegetables dropping by 7.8 percent, according to data released Friday by Beacon Economics.
The cause is fairly obvious, said Beacon trade expert Jock O’Connell. An unprecedented drought has led to fallowed fields and less food available for export. Ultimately, California can expect a rise in agricultural imports, O’Connell predicted, as grocers are unable to maintain volumes of locally-sourced produce.
“If production is down in California,Safeway and other chains will have to source from somewhere,” O’Connell said. “Ultimately we will get into a nasty dispute about whether we should use our water to grow crops for other people (in foreign countries).”
The value of California fruit and nut exports was approximately $706 million in August and the value of vegetables was $133 million.