Imports of fresh peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons into the United States from Mexico declined in 1999. imports from other regions of the world increased, with imports from European countries almost double in such commodities as tomatoes and peppers what they were in 1996. In Europe and Israel, essentially all of these crops are produced in greenhouses, and increasing returns through the 1997/98 season led to further increases in production. Productivity in European greenhouses is nearly three-fold, and in some cases ten-fold, compared with Florida field production. Product quality is generally much higher from greenhouse versus field-produced vegetables. Competitive cost structures for greenhouse production and greater product quality have allowed producers from Holland and, more recently, Spain to increase their presence in U.S. markets, creating greater demand by consumers for their produce.
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