Fruit and Nut Farming Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Orange Groves, Citrus Groves, Non-citrus Fruit, Tree Nut Farming), By Farming Process (Organic Fruit and Nut Farming, Traditional Farming), By Region, and By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1108.66 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	13.28%
Fastest Growing Segment	Organic Fruit and Nut Farming
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 2342.71 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market will grow from USD 1108.66 Billion in 2025 to USD 2342.71 Billion by 2031 at a 13.28% CAGR. The Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market encompasses the commercial cultivation and harvesting of diverse fruit crops and tree nuts intended for fresh consumption or industrial processing. Primary drivers supporting market growth include the expanding global population which necessitates enhanced food security and a structural consumer shift toward plant-based diets that demand nutrient-dense produce. This positive momentum is reflected in recent industry output forecasts. According to the World Apple and Pear Association, in 2025, apple production in the Southern Hemisphere was projected to increase by 5.5 percent to approximately 4.75 million metric tons.

Despite these favorable volume indicators, the sector confronts a significant challenge regarding unpredictable climate patterns and extreme weather events that threaten harvest stability. Irregular precipitation and temperature fluctuations can severely disrupt growing cycles and impede the ability of producers to maintain consistent supply chains, thereby restricting broader market expansion and complicating long-term agricultural planning.

Key Market Drivers

Rising global awareness of health and nutritional benefits is a primary catalyst propelling the cultivation of vitamin-rich produce and protein-heavy nuts. As consumers increasingly prioritize immunity-boosting foods and plant-based proteins, agricultural stakeholders are aggressively expanding 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 upwardly adjusted to accommodate consumption needs. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, July 2024, in the '2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report', the almond production for the 2024 crop year was forecast to reach 2.80 billion meat pounds. Broader production metrics further illustrate this positive trajectory in the farming sector. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, in 2024, global orange production for the 2023/2024 marketing year was estimated to increase to 48.8 million metric tons, driven by favorable weather and higher yields in key regions.

Improvements in cold chain logistics and supply chain infrastructure serve as 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 instance, robust infrastructure has facilitated record trade volumes from major southern exporters to global markets. According to Frutas de Chile, October 2024, in the '2023-2024 Export Season Report', the total volume of Chilean fresh fruit exports sent to global destinations reached approximately 2.53 million tons. These advancements in distribution channels allow farmers to stabilize revenue streams by diversifying their market presence beyond domestic boundaries.

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Key Market Challenges

Unpredictable climate patterns and extreme weather events constitute a substantial impediment to the growth of the global fruit and nut farming market. These environmental volatilities disrupt the biological rhythm of growing cycles, leading to erratic yield volumes that compromise the reliability of supply chains. When producers cannot anticipate seasonal outputs with certainty, it becomes challenging to secure long-term contracts with processors and retailers. This lack of predictability forces 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 quantifiable in regional output data. According to the World Apple and Pear Association, in 2024, apple production in the European Union was projected to decrease by 11.3 percent to 10.2 million metric tons 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.

Key Market Trends

The deployment of autonomous robotic harvesting and pruning technologies is fundamentally reshaping orchard management by addressing chronic labor shortages and enhancing operational efficiency. As manual labor becomes increasingly scarce and costly, 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 utilize 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 for commercial integration. 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.

Segmental Insights

The Organic Fruit and Nut Farming segment represents the fastest-growing category within the global market, driven by rising consumer demand for chemical-free produce and sustainable agricultural practices. This expansion is supported by stringent certification standards and incentives from regulatory entities such as the European Commission, which encourage producers to transition away from synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, increasing health awareness regarding the adverse effects of chemical residues has accelerated the adoption of organic cultivation methods. Consequently, agricultural enterprises are reorienting their production strategies to capitalize on this shifting preference for environmentally responsible products.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the leading position in the Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market, primarily driven by the massive production capacities of China and India. This dominance results from favorable climatic conditions that allow for the year-round cultivation of diverse crops, ranging from tropical fruits to high-value nuts like walnuts and cashews. Additionally, a rapidly expanding middle class with increasing purchasing power has fueled domestic demand for nutrient-dense foods. Strategic support from institutions such as India's Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority helps streamline export standards and infrastructure, further strengthening the region's global trade influence.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, a consortium comprising Spanish technology centers TKNIKA and Eurecat launched a new robotic solution specifically designed for fruit harvesting. Developed under the "HarvBot" project, the autonomous system integrates artificial intelligence and advanced vision technology to accurately detect fruit ripeness and perform selective picking without damaging the produce. Initially tested on hydroponic strawberry crops, the robot was designed to be adaptable for other crops such as tomatoes and stone fruits. This innovation aimed to optimize field operations for agrifood companies facing labor challenges while simultaneously generating a comprehensive crop tracking database for better management.
• In October 2024, Naturipe Farms showcased its commitment to agricultural innovation by highlighting its "Sweet Selections" premium berry line at the Global Produce & Floral Show. The company introduced proprietary berry varieties bred for superior flavor and texture, including specialized blueberries and blackberries. Additionally, the firm launched a new product line called "Berry Buddies," which pairs fresh fruit with crackers, cheese, or pancakes in convenient snack packs. These initiatives underscored the organization's focus on expanding its portfolio with high-quality, value-added products to meet evolving consumer demands in the competitive global fruit and vegetable market.
• In September 2024, Nanovel unveiled an AI-powered autonomous fruit-harvesting robot designed to address critical labor shortages in the global agriculture market. The system, capable of picking citrus fruit from dense foliage with high precision, features a multi-arm platform initially towed by a tractor. Coinciding with this launch, the company signed a $900,000 funding agreement with the California Citrus Research Board to conduct extensive field trials in California starting in 2025. This strategic collaboration aimed to validate the technology's effectiveness in real-world orchard environments, ensuring the solution meets fresh market quality standards while enhancing operational efficiency for growers.
• In September 2024, Plenty Unlimited opened the world's first commercial-scale indoor strawberry farm in Richmond, Virginia, marking a major milestone in vertical farming. The facility utilizes proprietary technology and artificial intelligence to control environmental factors like light and temperature, enabling precise year-round production. Through a strategic collaboration with Driscoll's, the farm will exclusively grow the berry brand's proprietary strawberries, delivering peak-season flavor consistently regardless of the season. This development represented a significant advancement in controlled environment agriculture, designed to produce millions of pounds of berries annually while using significantly less land and water than conventional farming methods.

Key Market Players

• 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.

By Type	By Farming Process	By Region
Orange Groves Citrus Groves Non-citrus Fruit Tree Nut Farming	Organic Fruit and Nut Farming Traditional Farming	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Fruit and Nut Farming Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• 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
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE