Global Fruit Consumption Trends
Health concerns have driven demand for fruits and vegetables as consumers look for healthier options. In Europe, apples, pears, berries, and strawberries are widely accepted due to healthy properties. In North America, apples, bananas, and oranges are popular. In Latin America, tropical fruits like bananas and mangoes are very popular. In Africa, there is great diversity in fruit preferences. Information on fruits and vegetables grown in different climates is available. Research on hybrid varieties with better yields and disease resistance is ongoing. Climate changes affect yield and prevent diseases. The exponential growth in the fitness industry for healthy life includes fruits and expands the market. Low fruit consumption causes death globally. Europe imports most fresh fruits. Food waste erodes projected gains. Increasing fruit consumption shifts diets.
United States Fruit Imports
Why does the United States import so much fruit?
American consumers seek a safe, diverse, and abundant food supply. To help meet demands, the United States imports fruits and vegetables. Mexico leads in sending produce, worth over $7 billion. Peru had the fastest growth, led by fresh blueberries. Mexico accounted for over half of the $14 billion in US fresh fruit imports.
Tropical fruits require climates limited in the US. Produce crops are labor intensive. The US lacks a guest worker system, so it’s practical to import from regions with adequate labor. There is a trend towards protected crop culture like greenhouses.
The proportion of imported fresh fruit eaten in the US rose to 53.1 percent in 2016, from 23 percent in 1975. Fresh vegetable imports rose to 31.1 percent from 5.8 percent. Mexico provides most fresh vegetable imports, mainly tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and onions.
Despite domestic production, beef imports remain substantial. The top 15 imported fresh/dried fruits represent 88.1% of US fruit imports. Avocados lead at $3.4 billion, then bananas, grapes, oranges, and apples. North and South American countries export large volumes to meet US demand.
The Most Demanded Fruit in the World
Demand has driven imports. Health concerns increased demand for fruits and vegetables as consumers sought healthier options. Produce crops need abundant labor which the US lacks, so importing makes sense.
Top imported fresh/dried fruits represent 88.1% of total imports, led by avocados, then bananas and grapes. Each American eats 84 pounds of beef yearly, making the US third highest globally. Meat imports account for 8-20 percent of US meat supplies. The US exports more meat than it imports.