Imports Make up 11% of U.S. Diet

From Agribusiness Examiner #274
August 1, 2003
By Al Krebs <avkrebs@earthlink.net>

USDA REPORTS MORE THAN 11%
OF FOOD CONSUMED BY U.S IMPORTED

REUTERS: Imported fruits, vegetables, meat and other foods account for more than 11% of the food consumed by Americans, up from eight percent in the early 1980s, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on July 30.

U.S. per capita consumption of food stands at more than 2,000 pounds each year, up from 1,800 pounds two decades ago, according to a report by USDA economist Andy Jerardo.

The growth in U.S. food imports are due to consumers' demand for fresh fruits and vegetables during winter months, improved shipping and storage technology, and ethnic diet preferences, Jerardo said.

Among the imported foods showing the biggest increases during the past two decades are tomatoes, asparagus, olives, artichokes, pecans and shellfish.

Mexico supplies more than one-fourth of U.S. fruit imports and 38% of the nation's vegetable imports, the report said.

The USDA posted the full report on the Web at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fau/july03/fau7901/fau7901.pdf