An ag economist says America’s reliance on foreign fresh produce is likely to increase as the ag trade deficit widens.
Michigan Farm Bureau’s Loren Koeman tells Brownfield 30 years ago less than 15 percent of fruit was imported into the U.S.
“Now we’re at about 50 percent and we’ve been on a pretty straight trajectory,” he says. “Thirty years from now, that’s probably going to be over 70 percent if we stay on the current course.”
He says it’s difficult for American farmers to compete as imports increase.
