United States Horticultural Imports and Exports

Objectives I can compare and contrast imports and exports. I can identify top U.S. horticultural imports and exports. I can describe the importance of NAFTA.

Where does it come from? Cocoa for Candy Bars Brazil Grapes Chile Cut Flowers

Imports and Exports… Import Goods produced in another country and brought into the United States Export Goods produced in the United States and sent to another country

Food for Thought… Why would the United States need to import horticultural products? Why not just grow them here?

Why do countries import horticultural products? Climate Provide year round products produced on a seasonal basis Supplement a low or nonexistent supply of a product Supply products at a lower price to consumers Be able to export other products through a trade agreement

Why do countries export horticultural products? MONEY! Increase markets for products Supply needed products to other countries Import other products through a trade agreement Provide an increased income for farmers and agribusinesses Keep product prices at a competitive level

Brainstorm Time! Create two columns on a scrap piece of paper Take 2 minutes to create a list of the top AGRICULTURAL products you think the US imports and top products we export. Note: The products you list do not have to be horticultural products.

Top US Exports We export around $150 billion of product to over 170 countries Corn Wheat Soybeans Meat – beef, pork Animals feeds Cotton Tobacco Horticultural products

Some Top US Imports Tea Coffee Bananas Sugar Cut Flowers Fruits and Vegetables What do you notice about these products?

Horticultural Products The United States imports more horticultural products than any other agricultural products. Why?

Floriculture/Cut Flower Industry Why are flowers imported from foreign countries? Why do we not grow all the necessary flowers here in the United States?

International Flower Industry A leading country for flower production is Colombia. Latin America’s floral production is expanding because labor is cheap and flowers are a labor intensive crop to produce. The vast majority of the cut flowers found in U.S. floral shops come from Latin American countries. Other countries include Spain, Kenya, Israel and India.

Regions and Countries That Produce Flowers for the International Market North America - Europe - South America - Middle East - Asia - Africa - Central America- United States: California, Florida, Hawaii Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain Columbia Israel Australia, Singapore South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast Mexico, Jamaica, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ecuador

Cut Flowers and Production Regions Roses - Carnations - Tulips- Tropical ginger- Chrysanthemum- Iris- Sprengeri- Leatherleaf- Eucalyptus- Ti leaves- Israel South America Netherlands Hawaii South America Netherlands North America Hawaii

What is NAFTA? North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and it began on January 1, 1994.

What is NAFTA? This agreement removed most barriers for investment among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition, under NAFTA, all non- tariff barriers to agricultural trade between the United States and Mexico were eliminated.

What is NAFTA? While some tariffs were eliminated immediately, others would take anywhere from 5-15 years to be eliminated. What is a tariff? A tax on imports and exports.

How did NAFTA impact the horticulture industry? Horticultural products could be imported and exported from to and from the three countries with much less resistance. Where there any negatives to NAFTA?

Lets Review What are imports? Exports? Why is Latin America a main source for cut flowers? What is NAFTA?