What's Hot in the Fruit World?
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The statistics measure American per capita consumption of fruit, and the following sample shows the fruit per capita consumption figures for 1980 and 2007, along with the percentage change from 1980 to 2007.
- Apples up 25.3% (39.75 lbs to 49.82 lbs)
- Grapes up 11.2% (47.22 lbs to 52.52 lbs)
- Peaches down 31.2% (13.74 lbs to 9.45 lbs)
- Pears down 4.5% (7.40 lbs to 7.07 lbs)
- Pineapples up 4.6% (12.07 lbs to 12.62 lbs)
- Strawberries up 139.2% (3.19 lbs to 7.63 lbs)
- Oranges down 31.6% (95.27 lbs to 65.15 lbs)
- Tangerines down 31.2% (5.06 lbs to 3.48 lbs)
- Grapefruit down 75.5% (17.50 lbs to 7.15 lbs)
- Lemons up 20.9% (5.31 lbs to 6.42 lbs)
- Limes up 418.2% (0.55 lbs to 2.85 lbs)
- Source: USDA Fruit and Tree Nut Yearbook (October, 2009 data update). Note: The statistics listed only a sample of fruits, including the big three produced domestically, apples, grapes and oranges. The 2008 figures were listed as preliminary, so the 2007 figures were used.
During that twenty seven year time span, per capita lime consumption rose a whopping 418.2%, from .55 lbs to 2.85 lbs. At the same time, per capita grapefruit consumption dropped 75.5%, from 17.5 lbs to 7.15 lbs.
Although oranges still hold the top spot as American's favorite fruit (65.15 lbs per person per year), long term per capita consumption trends show a decline of over 31%. Peaches and tangerines show similar per capita consumption declines.
Declines in per capita orange consumption can be attributed to a variety of factors, including changing consumer preferences and the availability of alternative fruits. The imposition of orange juice tariffs, which are used to maintain higher price levels for Florida orange growers also makes other domestic fruit juices, such as apple juice, price competitive with orange juice.
Changing consumer preferences and fruit availability also partially explain the increases in strawberry and lime consumption. California farmers, for example, greatly increased their strawberry acreage and adopted methyl bromide fumigation as their primary means for reducing soil pests that lowered strawberry crop yields. Without suitable alternatives, the phasing out of methyl bromide use could reduce the California strawberry crop.
Limes, used primarily as a flavoring ingredient, end up at the bottom of the list in per capita consumption terms. However, over the years, the American palate has warmed to many lime enhanced foods and beverages.
© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels