Grower and operational characteristics of U.S. passionfruit farms

Authors: POSADAS, BENEDICT - Mississippi State University; STAFNE, ERIC - Mississippi State University; BLARE, TRENT - University Of Florida; DOWNEY, LAURA - Auburn University; ANDERSON, JOSHUA - University Of Florida; CRANE, JONATHAN - University Of Florida; GAZIS, ROMINA - University Of Florida; FABER, BEN - University Of California; Stockton, Dara; CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida; MORALES-PAYAN, PABLO - University Of Puerto Rico; DUTT, MANJUL - University Of Florida; CHAMBERS, ALAN - University Of Florida; CHAVEZ, DARIO - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Technology in Horticulture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2023
Publication Date: 10/20/2023
Citation: Posadas, B.C., Stafne, E.T., Blare, T., Downey, L., Anderson, J., Crane, J., Gazis, R., Faber, B., Stockton, D.G., Carrillo, D., Morales-Payan, P.J., Dutt, M., Chambers, A., Chavez, D. 2023. Grower and operational characteristics of U.S. passionfruit farms. Technology in Horticulture. 3:25. https://doi.org/10.48130/TIH-2023-0025.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48130/TIH-2023-0025

Interpretive Summary: The following report details the results of a national survey conducted during 2022 of more than 40 passion fruit producers in the United States, including Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The aim was to collect data on farm operational characteristics, including the average acreage of passion fruit farms in the U.S., the farm location and age, type of passion fruit grown; sales data such as where the crop was sold, the average price per box, and percent fresh fruit sales; and grower demographics. Respondents included farms in 7 states/territories. The data showed that the average passion fruit farm size was 1-2 acres, with the largest farms found in Florida. A box of fruit was found to have around 30 fruit per box and a mean price of $3.08. More than 80% of all passion fruit grown by the respondents was sold fresh, although more than 50% of farms included sales of value-added products. Of the fresh fruit sold, 34.9% were sold direct to consumer. These data will be used to to promote industry expansion in the U.S., and promote further research in support of the U.S. Passion fruit industry.

Technical Abstract: In the U.S., and its territories, passionfruit production has increased steadily since the 2002 USDA agriculture census report; however, little is known about the reported production areas and how the industry functions. We conducted a national survey from March to May 2022 to assess passionfruit growers' and farm operational characteristics. Forty-four surveys were completed, with Florida having the most responses (21), followed by Puerto Rico (12) and California (6). Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Virgin Islands completed the remainder. This sample was about 12% of the total passionfruit farms in 2017. The acreage dedicated to passionfruit production averaged 1.7 acres in 2019 and 2.1 acres in 2020 per farm, respectively. About 83% of the harvested passionfruit was sold fresh, while more than one-third were sold directly to consumers. The respondents averaged 53.2 years old. More than eight out of ten respondents completed at least a college degree. Half the growers considered themselves Hispanic, while almost two-thirds were white, followed by multiple racial origins and American Indian. These data developed a greater understanding of the passionfruit industry within the U.S. and will frame future projects to help grow this valuable specialty crop.