Fruit and Nut Farming Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market is projected to expand from USD 1.10 trillion in 2025 to USD 2.34 trillion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 13.28%. This sector involves the commercial cultivation and harvesting of various fruit crops and tree nuts meant for either fresh consumption or industrial processing. Key drivers fueling this market growth include a growing global population that requires improved food security and a structural shift in consumer preferences toward plant-based diets demanding nutrient-rich produce. This positive momentum is supported by recent industry output forecasts; according to the World Apple and Pear Association, apple production in the Southern Hemisphere was expected to rise by 5.5 percent to roughly 4.75 million metric tons in 2025.

Despite these positive volume indicators, the industry faces a substantial hurdle in the form of unpredictable climate patterns and extreme weather events that jeopardize harvest stability. Irregular rainfall and temperature swings can severely interrupt growing cycles and hinder the capacity of producers to maintain reliable supply chains, thereby limiting broader market expansion and making long-term agricultural planning more difficult.

Market Drivers

Increasing global awareness regarding health and nutrition acts as a primary catalyst driving the cultivation of vitamin-dense produce and protein-rich nuts. As consumers prioritize immunity-boosting foods and plant-based proteins, agricultural stakeholders are aggressively increasing acreage for high-demand crops like almonds and citrus fruits to meet this structural dietary shift.

This trend is evident in major production hubs where output targets are being raised to accommodate consumption needs; for instance, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reported in the July 2024 '2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report' that almond production for the 2024 crop year was forecast to reach 2.80 billion meat pounds. Furthermore, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, global orange production for the 2023/2024 marketing year was estimated to rise to 48.8 million metric tons in 2024, driven by favorable weather and higher yields in key regions.

Advancements in cold chain logistics and supply chain infrastructure represent a second critical driver, enabling the efficient transport of perishable goods to distant international regions. Enhanced refrigeration technologies and streamlined shipping networks allow growers to minimize post-harvest losses while accessing lucrative retail opportunities in emerging economies.

This logistical capability supports the sustained export growth of fresh commodities, ensuring that seasonal produce reaches consumers with maintained quality. For example, robust infrastructure facilitated record trade volumes from major southern exporters; according to Frutas de Chile's October 2024 '2023-2024 Export Season Report', the total volume of Chilean fresh fruit exports sent to global destinations reached approximately 2.53 million tons. These distribution channel improvements allow farmers to stabilize revenue streams by diversifying their market presence beyond domestic boundaries.

Market Challenges

Unpredictable climate patterns and extreme weather events pose a significant obstacle to the growth of the global fruit and nut farming market. These environmental volatilities disrupt the biological rhythm of growing cycles, resulting in erratic yield volumes that compromise the reliability of supply chains. When producers cannot anticipate seasonal outputs with certainty, securing long-term contracts with processors and retailers becomes increasingly difficult. This lack of predictability compels the industry to focus on short-term mitigation rather than strategic expansion, thereby reducing capital investment in new cultivation areas and stalling broader market development.

The direct consequence of these weather-induced disruptions is measurable in regional output data. According to the World Apple and Pear Association, apple production in the European Union was projected to decrease by 11.3 percent to 10.2 million metric tons in 2024 due to adverse conditions during the flowering and pollination stages. Such structural deficits limit the availability of produce for both fresh markets and industrial processing, causing supply shortages that deter consistent trade relationships. Consequently, the inability to maintain stable inventory levels directly constrains the overall revenue potential of the sector.

Market Trends

The adoption of autonomous robotic harvesting and pruning technologies is fundamentally transforming orchard management by addressing chronic labor shortages and improving operational efficiency. With manual labor becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, producers are integrating ground-based autonomous platforms and drone systems to mechanize repetitive tasks such as picking soft fruits and transporting harvested nuts. These systems employ advanced computer vision to assess fruit ripeness and size, ensuring a consistency in quality grading that human crews often struggle to maintain over extended shifts. This technological shift has attracted substantial investment to scale fleet capabilities; according to TechCrunch, January 2024, in the article 'Burro raises $24M to expand its autonomous robot fleet', the company secured Series B funding to accelerate the manufacturing and deployment of its collaborative robots designed to support harvest logistics in commercial nurseries and berry farms.

Concurrently, the proliferation of regenerative and certified organic farming practices is gaining momentum as producers seek to enhance soil biodiversity and align with stringent environmental regulations. This transition involves minimizing synthetic inputs and employing cover cropping techniques to improve water retention and carbon sequestration within fruit orchards. Retailers and processors are increasingly incentivizing this shift to fulfill corporate sustainability mandates and address consumer demand for eco-conscious production methods. The scale of this adoption is evident in recent global acreage metrics; according to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), February 2024, in 'The World of Organic Agriculture 2024', global organic agricultural land expanded to approximately 96 million hectares, reflecting a sustained commitment among international growers to increase chemical-free cultivation zones.

Key Players Profiled in the Fruit and Nut Farming Market

• Total Produce PLC
• Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.
• Chiquita Brands International Inc.
• Olam International Ltd.
• Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
• Blue Diamond Growers
• Sunkist Growers Inc.
• Costa Group Holdings Ltd.
• Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Fruit and Nut Farming Market, by Type:

• Orange Groves
• Citrus Groves
• Non-citrus Fruit
• Tree Nut Farming

Fruit and Nut Farming Market, by Farming Process:

• Organic Fruit and Nut Farming
• Traditional Farming

Fruit and Nut Farming Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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