The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Consumers have many reasons for consuming organic fruits and nuts including perceived health benefits or quality attributes.  Organic fruits and nuts comprise a significant portion of the US organic consumer market basket.  Accordingly, in the past decade since the beginning of the USDA National Organic Program the acreage of certified fruit and nut production in the US has increased by approximately 2.75 times.  That increase, however, represents only approximately 3% of the crop acreages of fruits and nuts in the US.  This presentation will review changes in the organic production by specific fruit and nut crops, the regions of organic production in the US, the research on organic fruit and nut production during the past decade, and the current and future issues facing organic fruit and nut production.