Though it doesn't have a formal free-trade relationship, the United States and China are major trading partners on the world stage. Much of what consumers use for clothing or products are manufactured in the world's most-populated country and many of the things that Chinese families eat are grown in America.
Moving forward, more of what the U.S. grows on orchards throughout the country will be sold on China's farmer markets and resting in families' fruit baskets.
This past January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and officials in China came to an agreement that will send more apples to the Far East. In 2013, the latest year for which data is available, overall apple exports for the U.S. were valued at $1 billion. This new accord has the potential to increase apple shipments to China by 10 percent.
"Washington is home to 70 percent of the United States' apple supply."
Apples are one of the more unique fruits, in that they can be grown in a variety of climates. All 50 states grow apples, with more than half of them producing enough to be sold commercially. According to Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, 70 percent of the U.S.' apple crop is grown in Washington State. Other leading places where the popular hand fruit is bought, grown and sold include Pennsylvania, New York, California, Virginia and New Hampshire. The peak season for apples is fall, as millions of Americans visit area farms to do their own apple picking.
$100 million annual increase to apple exports
With the new agreement in place regarding food exports to China, the USDA estimates that approximately 5 million bushels will be shipped to the country within two years' time, valued at $100 million annually.
Tom Vilsack, secretary for the Department of Agriculture, noted that the accord is a big step forward for U.S-China relations.
"USDA remains a strong partner and advocate in the international marketplace, working with foreign governments and international organizations to ensure the smooth and safe flow of international trade," said Vilsack. "The past six years have been the strongest in history for agricultural trade, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $771.7 billion since 2009."
A chief contributor to the U.S.' economy is its agriculture.He added that to take advantage of these gains, it's incumbent upon the U.S. Congress to pass a Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill, which will not only encourage additional trade, but help create new opportunities for business and add jobs to the economy.
Earlier this year, President Barack Obama talked about TPA during his State of the Union address, imploring that Congress approve the measure that he said will fuel new trade deals with Asian and European countries.
"Ninety-five percent of the world's customers live outside our borders," said Obama. "We can't close ourselves off from those opportunities."
Foreign trade opportunities have been a major component of the current administration's agenda. In November, Obama announced the country's intention to take part in the Trans Pacific Partnership, which would increase trade relations with other market economy-based nations, such as Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam. China is not a TPP-member nation.