Olive Oil Among Top Organic Imports in U.S.
In 2013, the United States imported $166 milÂlion worth of organic olive oil, repÂreÂsentÂing about one-tenth of all forÂeign olive oil sales in the counÂtry that year, accordÂing to the USDA. Organic olive oil, along with organic cofÂfee, bananas, and manÂgos, made up 60 perÂcent of the value of tracked organic imports in 2013, with half of the organic olive oil imported being extra virÂgin.
Organic olive oil worth $166 milÂlion was imported by the United States last year, the first in which it was tracked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This means about one tenth of the value of all forÂeign olive oil sales in the U.S. in 2013 came from organic olive oil.
Organic olive oil together with organic cofÂfee ($253 milÂlion), bananas ($259 milÂlion), and manÂgos ($101 milÂlion) accounted for 60 perÂcent of the value of tracked organic imports in 2013, accordÂing to the USDA’s Economic Research Service.
About half the value of the organic olive oil imported came from extra virÂgin olive oil, 47 perÂcent the olive oil grade and 4 perÂcent from virÂgin olive oil.
Last year, the United States imported 288,000 MT of olive oil valÂued at just over $1.1 bilÂlion, down in volÂume but up in value from the just over 321,000 MT valÂued at nearly 963 milÂlion imported in 2012, USDA figÂures show.
Earlier this year, the International Olive Council said it was trackÂing trade in organic olive oil thanks to new interÂnaÂtional cusÂtoms codes makÂing it feaÂsiÂble for the first time.
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