Takeaways
- Blueberries will continue to lead the Georgia fruits and tree nuts industry in 2026 and subsequent years, unless some drastic, unexpected calamity occurs.
- It would be a challenge for the Georgia pecan industry to regain its leadership position in the fruits and nuts category, but the industry will remain strong in 2026.
- Overall, consumer and grower price indexes will remain strong in 2026.
Market Situation
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2025) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) agricultural prices, the producer price index (PPI) started off in January 2025 at 139 (2011 = 100), roughly a 9% increase from the same period in 2024 and 8% decrease compared to the same time in January 2023. The PPI quickly climbed up, and by July 2025, the PPI for fruit and tree nuts was 171 (2011 = 100). This growers index was 7% higher than the 2020–2022 average and 11% higher than July 2023. The report further shows that prices received by growers were higher in the first and second quarters of 2025 compared with 2024 and higher than the average (2020–2022) respectively (Figure 1).
Note. The index is based on 2011 values, which represents a value of 100. Source: USDA Economic Research Service, based on agricultural price data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
On the other hand, in August 2025, the consumer price index (CPI) for fresh fruits reported was 409.8 (1982–1984 = 100), an increase of 2% compared to the same time in 2024.
Georgia Fruits and Nuts
The fruit and nuts industry has made significant growth in the past decade. The fruit and nuts industry in Georgia contributed 5.6% of the total farm gate grower value by commodity groups in 2012, equivalent to $547.45 million. In 2023, the industry’s contribution to the total farm gate grower’s value increased to 6.3%, equivalent to $1.11 billion. Back then, the three dominant fruits and tree nuts were pecans, generating 45.5% of the total fruits and nuts farm gate value, followed by blueberries (41.9%) and peaches (6.2%).
These dynamics have drastically changed in the past decade. The Georgia Farm Gate Value Report shows that blueberries have taken the lead by generating 47.5% of the total fruit and nuts farm gate value, followed by pecans (31.8%) and grapes (4.5%) respectively (Figure 2).
Source: Georgia Farm Gate Value Report 2023.
It is worth mentioning that there is a “new kid in town”: the citrus industry that was not known a decade ago contributed 3.5% of the total fruit and nut farm gate value of $1.11 billion in 2023. Although all these enterprises suffer from different production problems such as pests, diseases, and natural disasters, they still find a way to come back.
The top 10 Georgia fruit- and nut-producing counties in 2023 were Bacon, Baker, Appling, Sumter, Mitchell, Dougherty, Pierce, Ware, Coffee, and Peach (Table 1).
Table 1. Top Fruit and Nuts-Producing Counties in Georgia in 2023.
| County | Value | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon | $124,651,378 | 11.23% |
| Baker | $102,220,596 | 9.21% |
| Appling | $74,708,400 | 6.73% |
| Sumter | $64,073,625 | 5.77% |
| Mitchell | $50,555,667 | 4.56% |
| Dougherty | $46,144,868 | 4.16% |
| Pierce | $40,238,876 | 3.63% |
| Ware | $34,917,000 | 3.15% |
| Coffee | $34,666,847 | 3.12% |
| Peach | $29,008,000 | 2.61% |
| Source: Georgia Farm Gate Value Report 2023. | ||
Reference
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. (2025). Georgia farm gate value report 2023. University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. https://caed.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/caed/publications/annual-reports-farm-gate-value-reports/2023%20Farm%20Gate%20Value%20(Updated).pdf
