Data Crunch: Popular Food Crops Most Exposed to Climate Risk

The potential consequences of climate risk are many. A newly published study has revealed which of America’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts are most at risk from extreme weather events. Findings show that many are grown in just a few places, and those places face the country’s highest threat from drought, heat, wildfires, and floods.

The research conducted by Gourmet Gift Baskets compared farm data from USDA with the FEMA National Risk Index, a government score that rates how exposed each part of the country is to natural hazards. The study then measured how much of each crop is grown in the areas rated “very high risk.”

Some key findings from the unique study include:

• Honeydew melons rank first, with 86.8% of their cropland in very high climate risk areas.
• Tomatoes follow at 68.6%, then pistachios at 65.4%, the highest share of any tree nut.
• Almonds are just behind at 62.2%.

Ryan Abood, President and CEO of Gourmet Gift Baskets and author of the study, points out that when production clusters this tightly, a single drought or heat wave in one region can disrupt the national supply of a grocery staple.

“While this hyper-specialization enables local varieties like Washington caneberries, Idaho mint, and Florida winter strawberries, it has also created a fragile supply chain,” Abood writes in the study. “Many of the microclimates best suited for specialty crop production are becoming increasingly exposed to drought, extreme heat, flooding, wildfire, and water stress, threatening the stability of the national supply chain and putting the availability of some of the country’s favorite grocery staples at risk.”

To check out the full study, visit GourmetGiftBaskets.com.