U.S. imports of both fruits and vegetables up in 2019, USDA reports
U.S. imports of both fruits and vegetables increased moderately in 2019, new trade figures reveal.
Total U.S. imports of fresh vegetables totaled $9.07 billion in 2019, up 7% compared with 2018.
Meanwhile, the USDA report U.S. imports of fresh/frozen fruit totaled $15.06 billion, up 8% compared with 2018.
By dollar value, with comparison to 2018, leading fruit imports for 2019 were:
- Total fresh and frozen fruit: $15.06 billion, up 8%;
- Berries (blueberries and raspberries: $2.92 billion, up 14%;
- Avocados: $2.76 billion, up 18%;
- Bananas/plantains: $2.4 billion, down 1%;
- Fresh grapes: $1.65 billion, up 6%;
- Fresh citrus: $1.23 billion, down 5%;
- Fresh or frozen strawberries: $1.07 billion, up 41%;
- Fresh melons: $694 million, up 5%; and
- Fresh or frozen pineapples: $655 million, down 2%.
By dollar value, with comparison to 2018, leading U.S. vegetable imports for 2019 were:
- Fresh vegetables; $9.07 billion, up 7%;
- Fresh tomatoes: $2.31 billion, down 3%;
- Fresh peppers: $1.67 billion, up 13%;
- Fresh cucumbers: $826 million, up 8%;
- Fresh asparagus: $694.4 million, up 10%;
- Fresh onions: $449 million, down 3$%;
- Fresh squash: $388 million, up 5%;
- Fresh lettuce: $368 million, up 30%;
- Fresh cauliflower and broccoli: $347 million, up 18%;
- Fresh potatoes: $208 million, down 8%;
- Fresh garlic: $187 million, up 23%; and
- Fresh beans: $151 million, up 3%.
By country of origin, 2019 import trends for fresh vegetables, compared with 2018, were:
- Mexico: $6.3 billion, up 8%;
- Canada: $1.62 billion, up 7%;
- Peru: $330 million, up 8%;
- Guatemala: $150.6 million, up 8%;
- Costa Rica: $70.2 million, no change;
- Ecuador: $37.8 million, up 39%;
- Honduras: $53.9 million, down 3%;
- Colombia: $15.1 million, up 3%; and
- China: $126.1 million, up 1%.
By country of origin, 2019 import trends for fresh or frozen fruit, compared with 2018, were:
- Mexico: $7.3 billion, up 18%;
- Chile: $1.4 billion, down 10%;
- Peru: $1.3 billion, up 26%;
- Canada: $399.8 million, up 2%;
- Guatemala: $1.2 billion, down 3%;
- Costa Rica: $978.9 million, down 3%;
- Ecuador: $436.5 million, down 1%;
- Honduras: $377 million, up 4%;
- Colombia: $197 million, down 8%;
- Argentina: $154 million, down 5%; and
- New Zealand: $127 million, down 9%.
