Banana imports edge slightly higher

Workers wash and prepare bananas for Dole Food Co. According to the USDA, from August 2019 to July, Guatemala was the largest supplier of bananas to the U.S., at 2.14 million metric tons
Workers wash and prepare bananas for Dole Food Co. According to the USDA, from August 2019 to July, Guatemala was the largest supplier of bananas to the U.S., at 2.14 million metric tons
(Courtesy Dole Food Co. )

Bananas remain America’s favorite fruit, but growth is slow at the top.

U.S. banana imports from August 2019 to July were 5.12 million metric tons, up less than 1% compared with the previous year. 

By value, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports banana imports totaled $2.46 billion in 2019-20, up 1.2% compared with 2018-19.

The USDA per capita availability consumption of bananas rated 28.3 pounds in 2018, down slightly from  28.7 pounds in 2017 and up slightly from 28 pounds in 2015, up 10.5% from 25.6 pounds in 2010 and virtually unchanged from 28.4 pounds in 2000.

Modest growth

According to the USDA, the annual percent of volume growth of banana/plantains imports:

  • 2011: 7.1%
  • 2012: 2.2%
  • 2013: 6.1%
  • 2014: 2.9%
  • 2015: 2.9%
  • 2016: 1.1%
  • 2017: 2.6%
  • 2018: 2.6%
  • 2019: -2.9%
  • 2020: NC. 

 

Related Content:

Smurfit Kappa offers BanaBag for banana producers 

Chiquita supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month with stickers 

Chiquita offers new recipes, banana backgrounds to kick off school

Tags

Produce - General Bananas
 

Latest News

Sustainability
Industry alliance: European packaging rules raise trade and food safety concerns
Industry alliance: European packaging rules raise trade and food safety concerns

New packaging rules adopted by the European Parliament raise serious trade and food safety concerns, says the Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods.

Tom Karst
Produce Crops
Consumers, retailers drive growth of new grape varieties
Consumers, retailers drive growth of new grape varieties

The world of table grapes has expanded exponentially from traditional red and green varieties to today’s plethora of cultivars with appearance, flavor and size characteristics.

Tom Burfield
Industry
CPMA president touts industry resiliency, global solutions to challenges
CPMA president touts industry resiliency, global solutions to challenges

In his State of the Fresh Produce Industry address, Ron Lemaire talked about the current political climate, the need for global sustainability goals and the need to focus on the consumer.

Christina Herrick
Retail
ShopRite and supermarkets to hold walk-up job fairs
ShopRite and supermarkets to hold walk-up job fairs

Wakefern Food Corp.'s supermarket banners, including ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market, are hosting hiring fairs on April 27 across several states.

Aaron Gonzalez
Industry
Mushroom Council applauds WIC enhancements, offers recipe tips
Mushroom Council applauds WIC enhancements, offers recipe tips

The Mushroom Council is highlighting multiple ways families can incorporate fresh mushrooms and other WIC foods into daily meal plans.

Aaron Gonzalez
Social Responsibility
Harris Teeter and Consalo Family Farms donate 48,000 pounds of mandarins
Harris Teeter and Consalo Family Farms donate 48,000 pounds of mandarins

More than 16,000 bags of Little Smoochies mandarins were donated through the "Mandarins Making a Difference" campaign, aiding local hunger relief efforts.

Aaron Gonzalez
View More