{"id":14030,"date":"2012-01-03T09:29:45","date_gmt":"2012-01-03T15:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.sustainablog.org\/?p=14030"},"modified":"2012-01-03T09:29:45","modified_gmt":"2012-01-03T15:29:45","slug":"us-fruit-vegetable-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/us-fruit-vegetable-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#039;s Happening With The US Fruit And Vegetable Supply?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Total.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14031\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Total.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Total.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Total-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At first glance there has been an unsettling trend in the supply of fruit and vegetables in the US (see graph above). \u00a0We seem to be reversing some of the consumption gains that <a title=\"Centers for disease control article on the need for more produce consumption\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5610a2.htm\" target=\"_blank\">public health experts<\/a> would see as important &#8211; even critical. \u00a0The USDA Economic Research Service tracks the farm-level <a title=\"Source of this data\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/Data\/FoodConsumption\/FoodAvailSpreadsheets.htm\" target=\"_blank\">supply of many commodities<\/a> and expresses it relative to the population of the country. \u00a0Overall, this data set appears to indicate a decline in per capita fruit and vegetable supplies from a peak in the late 1990s (\u00a0<a title=\"Details about the data, how it is collected etc\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/Data\/FoodConsumption\/FoodAvailDoc.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Note: these numbers are not a direct measure<\/a> of how much fruit and vegetables a typical American consumes because there is some <a title=\"One article on this subject\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/Publications\/EIB44\/EIB44_ReportSummary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">loss along the commercial chain<\/a> and also in the consumer&#8217;s home). \u00a0Most public health and nutrition experts would say that it would be better if Americans ate <a title=\"Detailed survey data on produce consumption trends by state, ethnicity, age, sex...\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5935a1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">even more fruit and vegetables<\/a> because of their value in addressing obesity, cancer and other health concerns. \u00a0How does that goal reconcile with these recent supply statistics? Fortunately, a closer look at the details reveals a more nuanced situation in which our US produce supply is getting:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>slightly smaller<\/li>\n<li>fresher<\/li>\n<li>more diverse, and<\/li>\n<li>increasingly imported.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Getting Fresher<\/h3>\n<div>From the graph below we see that most of the decline in the produce supply has been in processed categories. \u00a0There has been a decrease of about 25 pounds per person in processed vegetables (canned and frozen). \u00a0 However, since the middle of the last decade there has also been a drop of more than 10 pounds per person in the supply of fresh vegetables. The 30 pound per person drop in processed fruit consumption is mainly due to a 15 pound per person drop in orange juice along with declines in canned and dried fruit.<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Fresh-Processed.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14032\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Fresh-Processed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Fresh-Processed.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Veg-Fresh-Processed-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>Vegetable Options Are Becoming More Diverse<\/h3>\n<div>Of the fresh vegetables that USDA-ERS tracks (see table below), \u00a0there have been &#8220;winners&#8221; and &#8220;losers&#8221; comparing the period 1997-1999 with the period 2007-2009. \u00a0Traditional high consumption vegetables like carrots, head lettuce, and potatoes saw the largest decline in terms of pounds and on a percentage basis. \u00a0Eighteen tracked vegetables had an increasing supply over the same time period with romaine lettuce, onions and peppers being the largest on a weight basis and spinach, okra and asparagus showing the largest gains on a percentage basis.<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Vegetable-Change.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14033\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Vegetable-Change.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Vegetable-Change.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Vegetable-Change-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>Fruit Options Are Becoming More Diverse<\/h3>\n<p>Looking at the same time period, the fruit supply has also shifted towards greater diversity (see table below). \u00a0On a weight basis, the big winners have been avocados, pineapples and strawberries, but 10 fruits have seen more than a 25% increase and 5 fruits have increased more than 100%. \u00a0The biggest supply declines are for oranges, bananas, grapefruit and apples &#8211; again, traditional &#8220;mainstays.&#8221; \u00a0The gains are for more exotic options.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Change.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14034\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Change.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Change.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Change-291x300.jpg 291w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the fruit and vegetable supply is growing in crops that supply a diverse collection of desirable phytochemicals with positive health associations. \u00a0This is probably the most encouraging trend in recent years. \u00a0Not surprisingly, most of the big &#8220;winners&#8221; have been crops that are delivered with <a title=\"Chefs saying that taste is the key to drive produce consumption\" href=\"http:\/\/deltafarmpress.com\/markets\/health-attributes-shifting-produce-center-plate\" target=\"_blank\">reliable taste quality<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Fruits and Vegetables Are Increasingly Imported<\/h3>\n<p>In 1960, very few vegetables were imported to the US; since that time there has been a slow but steady increase in imports so that by 2009 they represented ~21% of the total (see chart below). \u00a0Per capita domestic production of vegetables had risen significantly in the 1980s, but leveled off during the 1990s. \u00a0Since around 2004, domestic vegetable production has declined ~30 lbs per person. \u00a0 The most significant growth in vegetable imports since 1990 has been for artichokes, <a title=\"An earlier blog about why Asparagus has shifted to imports\" href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/2010\/12\/asparagus-growing-science-politics\/\" target=\"_blank\">asparagus<\/a>, brussels sprouts, garlic, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, squash and tomatoes. By 2009, more than 40% of all these crops were imported. \u00a0Even crops which were not often imported in 1990 (carrots, mushrooms, broccoli), now have more than 10% <a title=\"A New York Times article about imported Organic vegetables\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/12\/31\/science\/earth\/questions-about-organic-produce-and-sustainability.html\" target=\"_blank\">imports.<\/a> (Crop-by-crop trend lines can be found on <a title=\"A large set of slides with these data\" href=\"http:\/\/www.scribd.com\/doc\/76903851\" target=\"_blank\">SCRIBD<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Veg-Source5001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14035\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Veg-Source5001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Veg-Source5001.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Veg-Source5001-300x204.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the early 1970s, only about 25% of all US fruit was imported. \u00a0Since then, there has been a steadily increasing trend in imports. Nearly 50% of US fruit was imported by 2009. \u00a0Since 1990, pineapples and limes have gone from ~55% US grown to 100% imported. \u00a0Papaya imports have increased from 25% to 95%. Kiwifruit imports have grown from 55% to 80%. \u00a0Avocados have risen from 10% to 70% imports and grapes from 35% to 50%. \u00a0Smaller increases have also been seen for tangerines, cantaloupe, and lemons. \u00a0Even strawberries are approaching 10% imports. (Crop-by-Crop trend lines can be found on <a title=\"The full set of slides\" href=\"http:\/\/www.scribd.com\/doc\/76903851\" target=\"_blank\">SCRIBD<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Source5001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14036\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Source5001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Source5001.jpg 500w, https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Fruit-Source5001-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Why The Rise In Imports?<\/h3>\n<p>There are probably several reasons for the increasing role of imports in the US fresh fruit and vegetable supply which vary by crop. \u00a0First, many popular fruits can only be grown in tropical or semi-tropical climates. \u00a0Such environments are limited in the US and those that exist are often under urbanization pressure (CA, FL, HI). \u00a0Secondly, many produce crops are labor intensive to produce. \u00a0Since the US does not currently have a workable guest worker system, it is more practical to import crops from regions with a more adequate or predictable source of labor. \u00a0Thirdly, there is an ongoing trend towards <a title=\"An article about protected culture from University of Tennessee\" href=\"http:\/\/plantsciences.utk.edu\/pdf\/kopsell_vegs_article.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;protected culture&#8221;<\/a> for high value crops (greenhouses, shade houses, rain shields&#8230;). \u00a0Canada and Mexico have been major innovators in that area and their highly productive systems have become important for many crops. \u00a0 Fourth, American consumers have come to expect year around supplies of popular produce items, and this requires sourcing from different regions at different times of year. \u00a0Finally, as US population has grown and fruit and vegetable consumption has increased, it is increasingly difficult to find enough <a title=\"An earlier post about what can and can't be &quot;local&quot; on a practical scale\" href=\"http:\/\/eatdrinkbetter.com\/2010\/02\/12\/why-most-food-could-never-be-local\/\" target=\"_blank\">suitable farmland<\/a> in terms of climate and water availability.<\/p>\n<h3>Can We Pursue Both Sustainability and Healthy Eating?<\/h3>\n<p>Most health professionals <a title=\"One citation saying higher consumption needed, especially for teens\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thepacker.com\/fruit-vegetable-news\/CDC-report-grades-students-poorly-on-produce-consumption-134611753.html\" target=\"_blank\">would favor substantially higher per capita produce consumption<\/a> than we see today. \u00a0Imports are a major <a title=\"A state-by-state survey of our less than desirable consumption trends\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5935a1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">means by which such goals are likely to be achieved<\/a>. \u00a0Some observers will be concerned that the increasing import trend is problematic because of &#8220;food miles.&#8221; \u00a0Whether the energy or greenhouse gas &#8220;footprint&#8221; of imported crops is high depends a great deal on the basic productivity by region and also depends on<a title=\"An article about a shipping choice in the real world\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thepacker.com\/fruit-vegetable-news\/fresh-produce-handling-distributing\/argentine_blueberry_exporters_weigh_shipping_options_122079054.html\" target=\"_blank\"> the means of shipping<\/a>. \u00a0In any case, it is impractical to locally produce the quantity and diversity of fruits and vegetables that Americans have proven willing to consume, let alone a higher goal. \u00a0If we wish to harmonize our national goals for both &#8220;sustainability&#8221; and &#8220;public health,&#8221; \u00a0the best strategies will include components such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A rational\u00a0<a title=\"Ag opposition to E-verify requirement in absence of a guest worker system\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncfc.org\/2011\/statement-by-ncfc-leaders-at-today-s-press-conference-of-the-impact-of-e-verify-on-agriculture\" target=\"_blank\">agricultural guest worker system <\/a>to preserve our domestic production<\/li>\n<li>Continued development of &#8220;protected culture&#8221; for land, water and labor efficiency<\/li>\n<li>The local and\/or multi-regional production of crops where that is practical (e.g. blueberries, sweet corn&#8230;)<\/li>\n<li>The use of preservation methods such as freezing for crops where taste and nutritional profiles are positive in that form<\/li>\n<li>Continued improvements in <a title=\"post about food waste by robin shreeves\" href=\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/2008\/08\/the-shocking-statistics-of-food-waste\/\" target=\"_blank\">waste reduction<\/a> in the production and distribution system<\/li>\n<li>Finding purchasing\/contracting regimes to make &#8220;in season&#8221; economics mutually beneficial for growers, the value chain, and the consumer<\/li>\n<li>Continued improvement of the consumption experience at the consumer level to avoid &#8220;<a title=\"an earlier blog about this issue\" href=\"http:\/\/redgreenandblue.org\/2010\/10\/20\/how-to-make-fresh-produce-more-sustainable-actually-eat-it\/\" target=\"_blank\">disappointment shrink<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"a good site about food transport\" href=\"http:\/\/www.scgyjt.net\/learning-about-technology-of-food-transport.html\" target=\"_blank\">Use of highly efficient, long-distance shipping methods <\/a>(e.g. ocean freight) where possible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Graphs by Steve Savage based on <a title=\"Where to get the data\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/Data\/FoodConsumption\/FoodAvailSpreadsheets.htm\" target=\"_blank\">USDA-ERS data<\/a>. \u00a0A more extensive set of graphs is available for download on <a title=\"A larger set of graphs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.scribd.com\/doc\/76903851\" target=\"_blank\">SCRIBD<\/a>. \u00a0My email is savage.sd@gmail.com. \u00a0My main blog site is <a title=\"To my blog\" href=\"http:\/\/appliedmythology.blogspot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Applied Mythology.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Featured image credit:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/savannahgrandfather\/312427606\/\">Bruce Tuten at flickr<\/a> under a <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\">Creative Commons license<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most public health and nutrition experts would say that it would be better if Americans ate even more fruit and vegetables than they do because of their value in addressing obesity, cancer and other health concerns.  How does that goal reconcile with these recent supply statistics? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":14055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[5557,3105,3668,404,5265,3707,5187,5558,2500],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The US Fruit &amp; Vegetable Supply: What&#039;s Going On?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The economics of food, particularly fruits and vegetables, have changed dramatically in recent decades. 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Agricultural scientist for 30+ years with a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology. Have worked for Colorado State University, DuPont and Mycogen and for the last 13 years consulting for all sorts or companies, universities and grower groups. Experience in biological control, natural products, synthetic chemicals, genetics, GMOs and agronomic practices. Have given multiple invited talks on the interaction between agriculture and climate change (both ways)\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/importantmedia.org\/members\/sdsavage\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/author\/sdsavage\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The US Fruit & Vegetable Supply: What's Going On?","description":"The economics of food, particularly fruits and vegetables, have changed dramatically in recent decades. 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