Economic

Research

Service

Canned Fruit and 

Vegetable Consumption 

in the United States

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

An Updated Report to Congress

October 2010
Canned Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United States

An Updated Report to Congress

October 2010

Jean C. Buzby, Hodan Farah Wells, Aylin Kumcu, Biing-Hwan Lin,

Gary Lucier, and Agnes Perez

Abstract

This report updates the Canned Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United States: Report to the 

United States Congress (September 2008), using more recent data through 2008, where available. Both 

reports were prepared and published in response to requests from Congress. We used data from the 

Economic Research Service’s Food Availability Data System, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer 

Expenditure Surveys, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food intake surveys to study U.S. 

consumption of and spending on canned fruits and vegetables. Data since 1970 suggest that the share 

of canned fruit out of total fruit consumed will continue to be fairly constant at around 6 percent in 

the short term, while the share of canned vegetables out of total vegetables consumed will continue to 

fl uctuate—but mostly decline—from the 24 percent share in 2008. The analysis tracks the changes in 

canned fruit and vegetable expenditures since the previous report, and breaks down these expenditures by 

demographic characteristics of households, including age and ethnicity.

Keywords: Canned, consumption, fruit, food availability, food intake, food loss, vegetable
ii

Contents

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

General Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Consumption Trends for Fruits and Vegetables Through 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

 The Canned Fruit Share of Total Fruit Remained Constant Between 2005 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

 Estimated Consumption of Each Type of Canned Fruit Declined From 1970 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

 The Share of Canned Vegetables in Total Vegetables Continued To Decline Through 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

 Canned Vegetable Consumption Declined Between 2005 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Economic Factors Determining Consumer Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Spending on Fruits and Vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

 Per Capita Spending on Canned Produce in 2004 and 2008 Was Fairly Constant in Real Terms. . . . . . . . . . . 12

 High-Income Households Spent the Most Per Capita on Canned Fruits and Vegetables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

 Hispanic Households Spent the Least on Canned Fruits, While White Households 

 Spent the Most on Canned Vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

 Southerners Spent the Most on Canned Vegetablesand Midwesterners Spent the Most on Canned Fruit . . . . 15

 Spending on Canned Produce Rose With the Age of Household Head and With the Presence 

 of Seniors, but Declined With the Presence of Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Demographic Characteristics: Who Eats What, When, and Where . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Future Trends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

 How Demographic Shifts May Infl uence Future Food Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

 Where Will Markets Head in the Future? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Appendix A: Sources of Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

A.1. The Food Availability Data System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

A2. Consumer Expenditure Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

A3. The Food Intake Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
iii

Summary

This report updates Canned Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United States: Report to the United 

States Congress (Buzby et al., 2008) using more recent data through 2008 (versus through 2005 in 

previous report). If current trends prevail, the canned fruit share of total fruit will hold constant and the 

canned vegetable share of total vegetables will continue to fl uctuate, mostly downward. However, there 

are offsetting forces that make it diffi cult to predict the future demand for canned produce. 

What Is the Issue? 

The Senate Report 111-039 accompanying S. 1406, the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, requested 

that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) prepare and publish 

a report regarding consumer perceptions of canned fruits and vegetables. In the absence of consumer 

surveys, the report relies on consumption and spending estimates to reveal attitudes of the U.S. population 

toward canned produce.

What Did the Study Find?

In 2008, the average American consumed 10 pounds of canned fruit and 39 pounds of canned 

vegetables. 

The analysis, which used per capita data from the ERS Food Availability System as a proxy for 

consumption, also revealed that: 

• Between 1970 and 2008, the amount of fresh and processed fruit consumed rose 6 percent and the 

amount of fresh and processed vegetables consumed increased 17 percent. Most of these increases 

were for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

• During 1970-2008, the canned fruit share of total fruit decreased from 11 to 6 percent and the canned 

vegetable share of total vegetables fell from 30 to 24 percent. There has been little change in these 

statistics since the 2008 Report to Congress, which estimated these shares to be 6 and 25 percent, 

respectively, in 2005.

• The estimated annual per capita food availability of canned fruit (adjusted for loss) fell 40 percent, 

from 16.7 pounds in 1970 to 10 pounds in 2008. Meanwhile, the estimated food availability of 

canned vegetables (adjusted for loss) fell 9 percent, from 42.5 pounds per capita in 1970 to 38.9

pounds in 2008.
iv

We expanded the analysis in the previous report of per capita spending on canned fruits and 

vegetables in 2004 to include 2008 data. As before, there was considerable variation in spending on 

canned produce across social and demographic groups. 

• Higher-income households and households headed by older persons spent signifi cantly more per capita 

on canned fruits and vegetables than lower-income households and those headed by younger persons. 

These households also increased their spending on canned produce between 2004 and 2008.

• Whites spent the most on canned produce and Asians spent the least. 

• By region, Southerners spent the most on canned vegetables and Midwesterners spent the most on 

canned fruit. 

• Between 2004 and 2008, prices for canned produce increased more than prices for food in general: 

prices for canned vegetables rose 25.6 percent, prices for canned fruits rose 18.9 percent, and prices for 

all food-at-home rose 15 percent.

Food availability trends over the past 40 years suggest that in the very short run, the share of 

canned fruit out of total fruit will be fairly constant at around 6 percent, while the share of canned 

vegetables out of total vegetables will continue to fl uctuate—mostly to decline—from the 24 percent 

level in 2008. 

However, many economic, social, and demographic changes will occur simultaneously, and some will 

have offsetting effects on the demand for canned fruits and vegetables. Consequently, it is diffi cult to 

predict the future demand for canned fruits and vegetables. For example:

• The U.S. population is projected to become larger, older, wealthier, better educated, and more 

ethnically diverse in the long run. A wealthier and older population is likely to spend more on canned 

fruits and vegetables.

• Growth in the Hispanic population, which tends to spend less on canned produce than the rest of the 

U.S. population, may modify the per capita demand for canned fruits and vegetables.

How Was the Study Conducted? 

The report is based on data from the following sources:

1. ERS Food Availability Data System (see www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FoodConsumption/), the only 

source of time-series data on the food available for human consumption in the United States. 

The data system provides proxies for actual consumption. The data for fruits and vegetables are 
v

broken down by various product forms, including fresh and canned. In this report, ERS analyzes 

the amounts and shares of all fruits and vegetables available for consumption from 1970-2008, 

including the amounts of individual canned fruits and vegetables. (See Appendix A1 for further 

information on the Food Availability Data System.) 

2. U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey 

(CE), conducted in 2004 and 2008 (www.bls.gov/cex). The CE’s Diary Survey contains data on 

household food expenditures for 2 consecutive weeks. Respondents also report data on income, 

social, and demographic characteristics. The CE data were used to estimate annual per capita 

spending on various food and nonfood items by income, social, and demographic characteristics of 

the U.S. population. (See Appendix A2 for more information.) 

3. USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) (see http://www.ars.usda.

gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=14531), conducted in 1994-1996 and 1998. ERS used these data to 

describe who eats selected fruits and vegetables, the amount eaten, and where fruits and vegetables 

are eaten. These studies were reviewed, and relevant fi ndings on the consumption of canned fruits 

and vegetables are summarized here. The CSFII data are dated. But more recent data cannot 

be used, at this time, to estimate the amount of produce consumed because the database is not 

available to translate food consumption information back into commodity ingredients. A food and 

commodity translation database is under development to fi ll this research need. (See Appendix 

A3 for further discussion.)
1

General Background

This report by the USDA’s ERS is an update to Canned Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United 

States: Report to the United States Congress (Buzby et al., 2008, based on data through 2005). Using 

more recent data, this update, like the earlier report, presents results on canned fruit and vegetable 

consumption from three data sources: the Food Availability Data System, Consumer Expenditure 

Surveys, and food intake surveys. The new report includes data from the fi rst two data sources through 

2008. The update is in response to the Senate Report 111-39 accompanying S. 1406, the 2010 Agriculture 

Appropriations Bill, which requested that the ERS prepare and publish a report regarding consumer 

perceptions of canned fruits and vegetables. Consumer attitudes and perceptions regarding canned fruits 

and vegetables are revealed by market behavior, as indicated by consumption and spending trends over 

time and across demographic groups. 

The United States is among the world’s top producers of fruits and vegetables. In 2008, the country 

produced 57.6 billion pounds of fruit and 126.1 billion pounds of vegetables. Most domestically produced 

fruits and vegetables are consumed in the United States, but the share that is exported is growing. 

Increased promotion of U.S. fruits and vegetables, directed at overseas markets through efforts such 

as the USDA’s Market Access Program (http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp), has likely 

helped boost foreign sales, particularly to Canada, the largest foreign buyer of U.S. fruits and vegetables. 

However, while growth in U.S. fruit exports has been strong, the United States remains a net fruit 

importer. In 2008, 88.2 billion pounds of fruit and 127.6 billion pounds of vegetables were available for 

consumption in the United States when accounting for domestic production, exports, imports, feed and 

seed use, shrinkage in storage, and beginning and ending stocks (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Domestic production, exports, imports, and availability of fruits and vegetables for 

consumption in 20081

1Total availability = production plus imports minus exports, and where appropriate, adjustment for beginning and ending stocks.

Source: ERS, 2008. Fresh-weight equivalent. Total availability also accounts for changes in stocks, feed use, shrinkage 

in storage, and seed use. Melons are included in vegetables.

57.6

12.4

36.5

88.2

126.1

20.0 23.3

127.6

0 

20 

40 

60 

80 

100 

120 

140 

Billion pounds

Fruit Vegetables

Production Total availablility Exports Imports
2

U.S. fruit and vegetable imports grew during the last two decades of the 1900s and into the 2000s, 

due in part to the growing population in the United States and the increased demand for new products, 

such as fruit in single-serving plastic cups. Not only have imports increased for new items, such as the 

less traditional types of tropical fruit, but they have expanded for commodities produced domestically, 

creating competition for U.S. producers. In 2006, the United States was the world’s largest importer 

of canned fruit mixtures, accounting for 38 percent of such imports (USITC, 2007). In some cases, 

U.S. produce is exported in institutional-size metal cans, repackaged into plastic cups or jars in another 

country, and then imported back to the United States in the form of ready-to-eat products. An example is 

U.S.-produced peaches that are exported to Thailand in large metal cans and then repackaged for export 

back to the United States in individual-size plastic cups and other containers (USITC, 2007).

Fresh and processed fruits and vegetables are distributed through both retail (mainly grocery chains) and 

institutional channels (hospitals, hotels, prisons, schools, and other foodservice outlets). Here, “canned” 

refers to both traditional airtight, shelf-stable metal cans and containers and other newer and increasingly 

popular types of airtight containers, such as single-serving plastic cups. A large portion of canned 

peaches, pears, and fruit mixtures is sold to U.S. institutional buyers, typically in large containers that 

are lower priced per pound (USITC, 2007). On retail shelves, canned fruits and vegetables are typically 

sold in smaller containers, such as 4-ounce plastic cups or 8-ounce metal cans. Fruits and vegetables, 

both fresh and processed, are also purchased by the Government, for uses such as USDA’s school nutrition 

programs. 

Data on sales of fruits and vegetables to restaurants and other foodservice outlets are not available, but 

data do exist for retail sales. The 2008 Consumer Expenditures Study estimated total retail sales in 

supermarkets and mass supercenters for food categories with annual sales over $10 million (Progressive 

Grocer, 2009).

1 In 2008, sales at these outlets were estimated at $70.2 billion for fresh produce, $17.2 

billion for refrigerated and shelf-stable juice/drinks, $7.1 billion for canned fruits and vegetables, $5.4 

billion for frozen fruit juice and vegetables, and $2 billion for dried fruit (Figure 2).2

 Each of these estimates was higher than in 2006. Data are unavailable on the value of fruits and 

vegetables used in mixed, prepared foods like frozen entrées.

1 “The Consumer Expenditures Study is based on data collected by The Nielsen Company for UPC-coded products, as well 

as sales estimates made by Progressive Grocer’s research department for non-tracked categories in perishables and general 

merchandise” (Progressive Grocer, 2008).

2 Juice/drinks were mostly fruit products, but they included a relatively small amount of vegetable juice, nonalcoholic wine, 

and clam juice. The data were aggregated, so ERS could not exclude these products.
3

Figure 2

Estimated retail sales in supermarkets and mass supercenters in 2006 and 2008

Billion dollars (nominal)

Source: Calculated by authors using data from the Consumer Expenditures Study reported by Progressive Grocer, 

2007 and 2009.

2006 2008

0 

10 

20

30 

40 

50 

60 

70

80

Fresh produce Juice & drinks Canned fruits 

& vegetables

Frozen fruits 

& vegetables

Dried fruit

70.2

15.8 17.2

6.4 7.1 4.9 5.4

1.8 2.0

60.3
4

Consumption Trends for Fruits and Vegetables Through 2008

We used the estimated quantities of canned fruits and vegetables available for consumption in the United 

States as proxies for actual consumption (see Appendix A1 for further explanation of the data used from 

the ERS Food Availability Data System). 

The Canned Fruit Share of Total Fruit Remained Constant

Between 2005 and 2008

• The ERS Food Availability Data show that although the total amount of fruit available for 

consumption rose 6 percent between 1970 and 2008, the share of canned fruit out of total fruit fell 

from 11 percent to 6 percent (Figure 3).3 This 6 percent share of canned fruit out of total fruit is the 

same as the 2005 estimate in the previous report to Congress. 

• Fresh fruit and juice consistently tallied higher shares than canned fruit, though canned fruit 

maintained a higher share than dried and frozen fruit. 

• If we look only at total processed fruit, the canned share of total fruit fell from 19 percent in 1970 

to 12 percent in 2008 (not shown in Figure 3). This is slightly higher than the 2005 estimate of an 

11-percent share in the previous report to Congress, largely because of a recent sharp decline in orange 

juice, which reduced the corresponding estimate for total processed fruit.

3 Meanwhile, the shares for fresh fruit and frozen fruit increased between 1970 and 2008. The share of fresh fruit increased 

the most, from 42 to 51 percent, while the frozen fruit share increased by less than 1 percent. The juice and dried fruit shares 

fell during this period.

Figure 3

Per capita fruit availability by fresh or processing form

Source: USDA, ERS Food Availability data, May 12, 2010.

Fresh Canned

Frozen–2%

Dried

Juice

Fresh

Canned

Frozen–2%

Dried

Juice

42%

4%

6%

37%

51%

4%

11%

41%

1970 2008
5

Estimated Consumption of Each Type of Canned Fruit Declined

From 1970 to 2008

To estimate consumption of the different varieties of canned fruit, we used a different data series in the 

ERS Food Availability Data system, the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data. This series accounts 

for the amount of food lost at the market and consumer levels (e.g., plate waste and spoilage), enabling 

a closer approximation of what Americans, on average, consume over time. The estimated amount of 

canned fruit consumed per capita decreased 40 percent between 1970 and 2008 (table 1). In recent years 

(2005-08), canned fruit consumption fell 7 percent.

Each type of canned fruit covered in the data decreased between 1970 and 2008. One reason for these 

declines is that some consumers switched to fresh fruit or other types of processed fruit. Canned 

apples and applesauce were the most popular canned fruit in 2008, followed by pineapples and peaches. 

Although availability of these three fruits had decreased since 1970, they each maintained over a 20 

percent share of total canned fruit. The relative ranking has not changed since the previous report to 

Congress. However, canned olives increased 48 percent from 1970 to 2005, as shown in the previous 

report, but have since fallen 38 percent (2005-2008). Part of this decline is because California had a very 

light olive crop in 2008.

Table 1. Estimated per capita availability of canned fruit, adjusted for loss

Fruit 1970 2005 2008 1970-08

 change

2005-08 

change

Share of 

2008 total

Apples and applesauce 3.8 2.8 3.0 -22 5 29.7

Pineapples 3.5 2.4 2.2 -39 -8 21.5

Peaches 4.7 2.4 2.1 -55 -11 20.9

Pears 2.8 1.9 1.9 -31 -1 18.9

Olives 0.8 1.1 0.7 -8 -38 6.9

Cherries 0.3 0.2 0.1 -68 -25 1.1

Apricots 0.7 0.1 0.1 -87 -7 0.8

Plums 0.1 ----1 ----1 -91 -21 ----2 

Total 16.7 10.8 10.0 -40 -7 100.0

1Less than 0.1 pounds.

2 Less than 1 percent.

 -------- Pounds per capita --------

Source: USDA/ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data, 1970-2008.

 -------- Percent -------- 
6

The Share of Canned Vegetables in Total Vegetables 

Continued To Decline Through 2008

• Although the total availability of vegetables increased by 17 percent between 1970 and 2008, the 

availability of canned vegetables fell by over 5 percent. Canned vegetables appear to have been both 

partially replaced by, and supplemented with, an increasing amount of fresh and frozen vegetables. 

As a result, the share of canned vegetables out of total vegetables fell from 30 percent to 24 percent 

between 1970 and 2008 (Figure 4),4 a continuing decline from the 25 percent share in 2005. 

• The canned share of vegetables out of total processed vegetables fell from 55 percent in 1970 to 46 

percent in 2008 (not shown in Figure 4).

• During 1970-2008, there was little change in the relative ranking of fresh and processed forms 

of vegetables. Canned vegetables remained second after fresh vegetables, despite gains in frozen 

vegetables during 1970-2008. 

• Overall, for vegetables, the fi ndings remained fairly consistent with those of the previous report 

to Congress. Some of the recent decline in fresh vegetables is likely due to consumer food safety 

concerns.

4 Between 1970 and 2008, the share of frozen vegetables rose from 13 percent to 19 percent, while the shares of the dried 

vegetables, legumes, and potatoes-for-chips categories remained relatively constant. Fresh vegetables rose 2 percentage 

points, from 46 percent to 48 percent.

Fresh

Canned

Frozen

Dried

Potatoes for chips

Legumes–2% Fresh

Canned

Frozen

Dried

Potatoes for chips

Legumes–2%

Figure 4

Per capita vegetable availability by fresh or processing form

The data do not break down legumes into the different product forms. Potatoes have an additional category for chips.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service.

46% 3%

24%

19%

48%

4%

30%

13%

1970 2008

5%

4%
7

Canned Vegetable Consumption Declined Between 2005 and 2008 

Using the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data to estimate consumption of the different varieties of 

canned vegetables, we found that estimated consumption of canned vegetables, like that of canned fruit, 

declined between 1970 and 2008. The previous report to Congress found that consumption of canned 

vegetables increased 3 percent during 1970-2005. However, recent declines during 2005-2008 reversed 

the trend so that total consumption of canned vegetables fell by 9 percent during 1970-2008.

All but two types of canned vegetables covered in the database decreased between 1970 and 2008: 

tomatoes and mushrooms. The 8-percent rise in canned tomatoes added to that vegetable’s already 

dominant share of total canned vegetables. In 2008, the amount of canned tomatoes available for 

consumption was over fi ve times higher than that of the second-ranked canned vegetable, sweet corn. 

Canned tomatoes include a wide range of products, such as tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and pasta 

sauce. The 37-percent rise in canned mushrooms was due mostly to the increased demand for pizza with 

processed mushrooms. 

Table 2. Estimated per capita availability of canned vegetables, adjusted for loss

Vegetable 1970 2005 2008 1970-08

change

2005-08

 change

Share of 

2008 total

Tomatoes 21.5 25.6 23.3 8 -9 60

Sweet corn 8.8 5.3 4.2 -53 -21 11

Chile peppers1 NA 3.7 3.8 NA 2 10

Snap beans 2.4 2.0 1.7 -29 -17 4

Other canned vegetables2 1.8 1.8 1.6 -9 -13 4

Cucumbers (pickles) 1.9 1.3 1.2 -37 -8 3

Carrots 1.4 0.7 0.6 -55 -14 2

Mushrooms 0.5 0.7 0.7 37 3 2

Green peas 1.8 0.6 0.6 -66 3 2

Potatoes 1.2 0.6 0.6 -52 2 1

Cabbage (sauerkraut) 0.9 0.5 0.4 -48 -2 1

Asparagus 0.4 0.1 0.1 -65 8 ----3 

Total 42.5 43.0 38.9 -9 -10 100

miscellaneous vegetables.

3Less than 1 percent.

Source: USDA/ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data, 1970-2008.

 -------- Pounds per capita --------

1Data on chile peppers is not available for 1970. In 1980, the estimate was 1.88 pounds per capita per year. Includes

2Other canned vegetables include beets, pulses, pimentos, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, juices, and other

fresh, frozen, and dried chiles. Canning is a major use in this estimate.

 -------- Percent -------- 
8

Economic Factors Determining Consumer Demand 

Americans can now choose among a wider selection of fruits and vegetables year-round than in the past. 

In 1998, the typical U.S. grocery store carried 345 produce items, compared with 173 in 1987 (Calvin 

et al., 2001). International trade has helped overcome supply gaps that are due to seasonality.5 Imports 

also provide U.S. consumers with a larger variety of horticultural products, particularly tropical fruits 

that cannot be profi tably grown in the States. Some of the newer items available to consumers include 

imported tomato varieties and exotic imports like passion fruit. In 2007, for example, the United States 

imported 319 different fruit products from 121 different countries, including 41 new products and 10 new 

source countries added since 1998 (Brooks et al., 2009).

Demand for convenience, such as for single-serving containers of fruit, has also resulted in a wider array 

of products for sale, many of them from foreign suppliers. In general, increased fruit and vegetable 

availability could increase the demand for canned produce (see Box 1, “Major Trends and Factors 

Potentially Affecting the Demand for Canned Fruits and Vegetables”). Processed fruits and vegetables 

spoil less easily and tend to have lower handling and transportation costs than fresh versions, thus 

expanding the geographical reach of markets (Huang, 2004). The growing demand for convenience is 

refl ected in the share of fruit that is processed (i.e., canned, frozen, and other processed). In 1910, 12 

percent of the fruit available for consumption was processed, compared with 44 percent in 1959 and 49 

percent in 2008 (Morrison et al., 2010).

International trade has lowered prices for many fruits and vegetables, and this may increase the 

demand for these products, including canned versions. International trade has also helped smooth price 

fl uctuations, for instance, through year-round marketing agreements between wholesalers and retailers. 

New produce varieties that can handle different climates, locations, and pest conditions, along with 

advances in production, transportation, and handling methods, have also played a role in increasing 

produce availability, maintaining its quality, and lowering prices. 

5 The United States harvests many kinds of fruits and vegetables for domestic consumption and export during the growing 

seasons in late summer and early fall. The United States then imports many of these products from other countries during the 

remaining months, when they are not domestically produced. However, imports can compete with storable U.S. commodities, 

such as fresh apples and pears and canned fruit and vegetables. 
9

The relative prices of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables undoubtedly play a role in consumers’ 

decisions of which foods to purchase. The increase in imported canned fruits and vegetables, in new 

forms of these products, and in private-label supplies of traditional canned products has changed the price 

relationships between products and brands, often diminishing the competitiveness of U.S. canners in 

the domestic market (USITC, 2007). However, recent changes in the value of the dollar have increased 

the cost of imported produce and made U.S. produce exports more competitive, particularly for heavily 

traded types of produce. Exports of canned fruits and vegetables may also increase due to the weakened 

U.S. dollar.

Encouraging Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables has been a central theme of Federal dietary 

guidance for the past two decades, in part due to the growing evidence of the health benefi ts associated 

with fruit and vegetable consumption. A higher level of education, together with an increase in dietaryinformation campaigns, has equipped U.S. consumers with better nutritional knowledge and has 

promoted increased consumption of fruits and vegetables (Lin et al., 2003). It might be expected that 

Box 1. 

Major Trends and Factors Potentially Affecting the Demand

for Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Trend/factor Potential direction for demand 

↑ Availability of fruits and vegetables (variety, quality) ↑

↓ Price of fruits and vegetables ↑

↑ Increased awareness of nutritional ↑

 benefi ts of fruits and vegetables

↑ Eating away from home ↓ (except for some types like 

 canned refried beans)

↑↓ Demographic determinants ↑↓

Source: Compiled by authors from ERS data.
10

consumption of all forms of fruits and vegetables, including canned, would increase with greater awareness 

of their importance in healthy diets.6

A major dietary trend in the United States is the growing appetite for eating out. In 1970, 33 percent of 

all food expenditures was for food away from home; by 2008, that share rose to 49 percent. A number of 

factors have contributed to increased dining out, including the larger share of women employed outside 

the home (with less time for cooking and more discretionary income), more two-earner households and 

higher household incomes, the proliferation of more affordable and convenient fast-food outlets, increased 

advertising and promotion by large foodservice chains, and the smaller size of American households. 

Economies of scale make eating out relatively less expensive for smaller households than home cooking. 

These economic and demographic trends are expected to continue and to keep boosting Americans’ 

preference for eating out. It is not expected that the growth in restaurant meals will result in any notable 

increases in demand for all canned fruits and vegetables, though there may be a few exceptions, such as 

for canned refried beans, which are already mostly consumed away from home.

Changing economic, social, and demographic characteristics also play a role in shaping consumer 

preferences for fruits and vegetables, including canned versions. The next section looks at a sample of 

these characteristics (income, race and ethnicity, region, and age) and their association with expenditures 

on canned fruits and vegetables. 

6 There appears to be no published study on the effect of dietary knowledge on the consumption of canned fruits and 

vegetables. However, substantiated health claims appear to have helped increase consumption of some fruit and vegetable 

products, as well as of other foods.
11

Spending on Fruits and Vegetables

We estimated per capita spending on canned fruits and vegetables with data from the BLS CE (see 

Appendix A2 for a discussion of the survey). The 2004 CE estimates analyzed in the previous report 

to Congress are supplemented here with 2008 CE data. The differences between 2004 and 2008 are 

examined by comparing the CE data in both nominal (current) and real (infl ation-adjusted) dollars. To 

calculate real expenditures, we adjust the 2008 dollar values back to 2004 dollars using the Consumer 

Price Index (CPI) published by BLS to account for infl ation and allow us to compare the estimates side 

by side. This section examines differences in per capita spending by income and selected social and 

demographic factors. The analysis shows that:

• Per capita spending on canned vegetables was always greater than spending on canned fruit, 

regardless of the social and demographic breakdown. 

• Some of the fi ndings may be infl uenced by cost. Prices for canned fruit and vegetables rose more 

than for food in general, and prices for canned vegetables rose more than prices for canned fruit. 

According to the Consumer Price Index published by the BLS, prices for canned vegetables rose 

25.6 percent and prices for canned fruits rose 18.9 percent between 2004 and 2008. Prices for 

all food-at-home over this period rose 15 percent (U.S. Department of Labor, BLS, 2010). These 

price increases were primarily due to the general increase in prices across all commodity markets 

in 2007-08.

Our analysis of consumer spending on canned produce yielded the following results.
12

Per Capita Spending on Canned Produce in 2004 and 2008 

Was Fairly Constant in Real Terms

Per capital spending on canned fruits and vegetables rose between 2004 and 2008—from $13.93 to 

$17.34 for canned vegetables and from $6.53 to $8.30 for canned fruits. When adjusted for infl ation, 

per capita spending on canned vegetables declined from 2004 levels by less than 1 percent to $13.80, 

while spending on canned fruits increased by almost 7 percent to $6.98.

Figure 5

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: All households

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

13.93

6.53

17.34

8.30

13.80

6.98

0 

4

8 

12

16

20

24

Vegetables Fruits

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars
13

High-Income Households Spent the Most Per Capita 

on Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Households are classifi ed into three income groups using the Federal poverty guidelines.7 In general, 

spending on both canned fruits and vegetables rose with income, with high-income households spending 

the most. In 2008 (nominal), high-income households spent 34 percent more on canned vegetables and 53 

percent more on canned fruit, per capita, than low-income households. While differences between lowand middle-income households were small in both years, low-income households spent slightly more on 

canned vegetables than middle-income households in 2004, but the reverse was observed for 2008. 

When adjusted to 2004 dollars, high-income households spent 4.7 percent more per capita on canned 

vegetables in 2008 than they did in 2004. Over the same time span, low-income and middle-income 

households spent 11 percent and 4 percent less, respectively. In real dollars, low-income households and 

high-income households spent more on canned fruits in 2008 than they did in 2004 (8 percent and 9 

percent, respectively) while middle-income households spent less in 2008 (-2 percent). 

7 The low-income group has income not exceeding 185 percent of the poverty level, the high-income group has income 

exceeding 300 percent of the poverty level, and the middle-income group has income falling between 185 and 300 percent of 

the poverty level.

Figure 6

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: Income class

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

13.11

5.00

12.49

6.05

14.96

7.59

14.73

6.42

15.05

7.08

19.68

9.82

11.73

5.40

11.97

5.95

15.67

8.25

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits

Low income Medium income High income
14

Hispanic Households Spent the Least on Canned Fruits, 

While White Households Spent the Most on Canned Vegetables 

The U.S. population is separated into fi ve racial and ethnic groups: non-Hispanic Whites (Whites), 

non-Hispanic Blacks (Blacks), Hispanics, Asians, and other races and ethnicities. Spending by “other 

races and ethnicities” is not discussed in this report.8 In general, Whites spent more on canned produce 

than individuals of other races and ethnicities. In 2004, Blacks spent more on canned vegetables than 

Whites ($15.05 versus $14.34, per capita). In 2008, individuals of all races and ethnicities except Blacks 

increased nominal spending on canned vegetables. Infl ation was higher for canned produce than for all 

food-at-home, and thus a plausible explanation is that Blacks could be more responsive to price changes 

(that is, their food demand choices might be more elastic). Hispanics spent the least on canned fruits in 

2004 ($3.24), per capita, and Asians spent the least on canned fruits in 2008 ($4.32). Asians were the only 

race and ethnic group that spent less on canned fruits in 2008 than in 2004.

8 We are unable to identify who these “other” households are. They may be other races or ethnicities, they may be multiracial 

or ethnic, or they may have simply refused to answer this question in the CE. Thus we are not able to make conclusions about 

their spending patterns.

Figure 7

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: Race and ethnicity

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

14.34

7.46

15.05

4.67

12.44

3.24

7.87

5.44

19.23

9.63

13.21

6.07

13.60

5.04

12.58

4.32

15.30

8.10

10.51

5.10

10.82

4.23

10.01

3.63

0

4

8 

12

16

20

24

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits 

White Black Hispanic Asian
15

Southerners Spent the Most on Canned Vegetables

and Midwesterners Spent the Most on Canned Fruit

Individuals living in the West spent the least on canned vegetables, while individuals in the South spent 

the most in both 2004 and 2008. Real spending on canned vegetables declined between 2004 and 2008 in 

the South and West, but increased in the Northeast and Midwest.

In 2004, individuals living in the Northeast spent the least on canned fruits, while individuals in the 

Midwest spent the most. In 2008, Midwesterners continued spending the most on canned fruits (although 

real spending declined), and Northeasterners increased their spending on canned fruits and spent more for 

these products than individuals living in the South and West.

Figure 8

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables by region

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

13.40

5.60

13.72

8.36

15.01

5.89

12.84

6.52

17.73

8.77

17.54

8.84

18.14

7.93

15.24

7.73 7.38

13.96

7.43

14.44

6.67

12.13

6.50

0

4 

8

12

16 

20 

24

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits

Northeast Midwest South West

14.11
16

Spending on Canned Produce Rose With the Age 

of Household Head and With the Presence of Seniors, 

but Declined With the Presence of Children

Canned fruit and vegetable consumption increased with age in the United States. For example, in 

2008, households headed by a person 65 or older spent 17 percent more per capita (nominal) on canned 

vegetables and 63 percent more on canned fruit than households whose head was aged 40 to 64. And 

households headed by a person 65 or older spent 73 percent more per capita on canned vegetables and 134 

percent more on canned fruit than households whose head was younger than 40. 

Figure 9

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: Age of household head

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

11.40

4.96

14.85

6.80

18.13

10.31

13.05

5.96

19.25

8.57

22.54

13.93

10.39

5.01

15.32

7.21

17.94

11.72

0 

4

8 

12

16

20

24 

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits

< 40 years 40 - 64 years > 64 years
17

Consistent with the results for age of household head, households with children (age 18 or younger) spent 

less per capita on canned produce. In 2008, individuals living in households without children spent 45 

percent more on canned vegetables and 74 percent more on canned fruits, per capita, than individuals 

living with children (in both nominal and real dollars). 

Figure 10

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: Households with children

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

11.78 

5.41

17.37

8.33

14.76

6.44 

21.37

11.20 11.74

5.42

17.01

9.41

0 

4 

8 

12 

16 

20 

24 

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits

Children No children
18

Because spending on canned produce rose with age of household head, it is not surprising that households 

with seniors present (adults aged 65 or over, not necessarily the household head) spent more on canned 

produce in 2008: 33 percent more on canned vegetables and 78 percent more on canned fruits, per capita, 

than households without seniors (in both nominal and real dollars). In addition, between 2004 and 2008, 

households with seniors increased spending on canned fruits by 5 percent and canned vegetables by 19 

percent (in real dollars). 

Figure 11

Per capita spending on canned fruit and vegetables: Households with seniors

$ per person per year

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 and 2008.

2004 2008 nominal 2008 in 2004 dollars

16.56

9.19

13.40

6.00

21.80

13.01

16.41

7.31

17.35

10.94

13.06

6.15

0 

4

8

12 

16 

20 

24 

Vegetables Fruits Vegetables Fruits

Seniors No seniors
19

Demographic Characteristics: Who Eats What, 

When, and Where 

The previous section used BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data to analyze the spending patterns 

for canned produce by economic, social, and demographic characteristics. However, prices of canned 

produce vary greatly by the type of produce as well as by product attributes, such as packaging. Thus, 

spending more on canned produce does not necessarily mean that a greater quantity of canned produce 

was purchased. Data from the Food Availability Data System was used to provide an overview of the 

total quantities of canned fruits and vegetables consumed since 1970, but the data are not appropriate for 

determining the linkages between individual quantities of canned fruit and vegetables consumed and 

demographic characteristics. Therefore, this section uses other data sources to analyze how quantities of 

individual canned fruits and vegetables are linked to who eats what, when, and where.

Data from USDA’s food consumption surveys can be used to estimate the amount of canned produce 

consumed by Americans in different social and demographic groups (USDA, 2000). Since 2000, ERS 

researchers have conducted a series of studies combining survey data with availability data to describe 

who eats produce, how much, and where. These studies were based on 1994-96 and 1998 data. Even 

though more recent food consumption data have been collected, the recent data cannot be used to estimate 

the amount of produce consumed (see Appendix A-3 for an explanation and description of the data).

This section highlights fi ndings from 20 ERS-published studies pertaining to specifi c canned fruits and 

vegetables. Although these fi ndings do not give us a comprehensive story for all types of produce, they 

provide anecdotal evidence about individual fruits and vegetables. The fi ndings show the choices made 

in the marketplace, and this information reveals consumer preferences, which vary by the type of produce 

and product form. The preferences show that purchase decisions for individual commodities are based on 

income, age, and other demographic factors. However, purchase decisions can also be based on relative 

prices, availability, and convenience of the different forms (e.g., baby carrots versus canned carrots). 

Detailed tables and publications are available upon request from Biing-Hwan Lin of ERS 

(blin@ers.usda.gov).

Findings from ERS studies on consumption patterns for individual fruits and vegetables are as follows:

Apples (Perez et al., 2001)

• Children under the age of 5 eat more applesauce than older children and adults. 

• By a substantial margin, Whites consume more applesauce than other individuals.

• Applesauce consumption has risen with income.
20

Tomatoes (Lucier et al., 2000)

Most processed tomatoes are consumed at home, except for ketchup. 

• Fast food restaurants account for 34 percent of ketchup use, and restaurants with waiter service 

account for 15 percent. 

• Individuals living in the western region eat more tomato sauce and less tomato paste than 

individuals living in other parts of the United States. The western region accounts for 22 percent 

of the U.S. population and consumes 25.6 percent of tomato sauce and 20.9 percent of tomato 

paste. 

• Relative to other Americans, Blacks have a preference for ketchup but do not favor tomato juice. 

Blacks account for 12.6 percent of the U.S. population and consume 14.6 percent of ketchup and 5.8 

percent of tomato juice.9

Sweet corn (Lucier and Lin, 2001)

• Canned sweet corn consumption, on a fresh-equivalent basis, is smaller than fresh and frozen sweet 

corn consumption. 

• The foodservice sector uses a larger percentage of frozen and canned sweet corn than fresh sweet 

corn. The use of prepared frozen and canned corn products is heavily favored in the foodservice 

industry to reduce labor costs.

Snap beans (Lucier and Lin, 2002)

• Consumption of canned snap beans (i.e., green or long beans) is greatest among older Americans 

(age 60 and above) and weakest among teenagers. 

Cucumbers (Lucier and Lin, 2000)

• The preference for fresh and pickled cucumbers varies by age. 

• Men aged 20 to 59 are the largest consumers of pickles, accounting for 27 percent of the U.S. 

population but consuming 39 percent of pickled cucumbers. 

• Seniors consume less than the average amount of pickles, likely refl ecting their desire to reduce 

sodium intake.

9 The population estimate for Blacks in the 1994-96 survey is from the 1990 Census.
21

Potatoes (Lin et al., 2001)

• Canned potatoes make up a very small share of total potato use (about 2 pounds fresh weight, 

compared with 63 pounds for frozen potatoes in 1999). 

• Canned potato consumption rises with income and is higher among individuals living in rural areas 

than among those living in nonrural areas.

Carrots (Lucier and Lin, 2007)

• Most processed carrots are consumed at home, 

• An estimated 1.55 pounds of fresh equivalent canned carrots were consumed per capita in 2006, with 

86 percent of this amount eaten at home. 

• Restaurants with waiter service account for 7 percent of canned carrot use, followed by 3 percent at 

school cafeterias. 

• At home, individuals living in the southern region consume more canned carrots per capita than 

individuals in other regions. 

• Per capita consumption of canned carrots declines with income and education.

• In 2005, Whites ate more canned carrots at home by a substantial margin than Hispanics, Blacks, 

and Asians (Figure 12). 

Figure 12

Annual per capita consumption of canned carrots by race

Pounds per person per year, fresh-equivalent weight

Source: Consumption patterns depicted in 1994-96 and 1998 are used with 2005 Food Availability data 

to show 2005 consumption by race.

1.43

0.77 0.8

0.31

0.57

1.23

Whites Blacks Hispanics Asians Others All
22

Onions (Lucier et al., 2001)

• At-home consumption accounts for 80 percent of canned onion use. 

• Restaurants with waiter service lead the away-from-home market with 12 percent of total canned 

onion use.

Spinach (Lucier et al., 2004)

• At-home consumption accounts for 90 percent of canned spinach use. 

• Canned spinach is favored by older people, those living in the South and West, and those living in 

rural areas. 

Dry beans (Lucier et al., 2000)

• Canned refried pinto beans differ distinctly from other dry beans in terms of where they are 

consumed. About 77 percent of all dry beans are consumed at home, whereas 71 percent of canned 

refried pinto beans are consumed away from home, mostly at fast food outlets (Figure 13). 

• Refried pinto bean consumption rises with age and then drops sharply among seniors, refl ecting the 

fact that older Americans are less likely to eat out. 

• Canned refried pinto beans are favored by Hispanics, especially Mexican Americans.

Figure 13

Share of select dried beans consumed at home and away from home

Percent of total

Source: USDA’s Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 1994-96.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Home Fast food Other

All Kidney Other Navy

pinto

Refried 

pinto

Black Limas Chickpeas Blackeye
23

Future Trends

How Demographic Shifts May Infl uence Future Food Choices

The U.S. population is expected to continue to increase, with changes occurring in the number of 

people in different economic, social, and demographic groups. The population is expected to become 

wealthier, older, better educated, and more ethnically diverse in the long run. In particular, the racial 

and ethnic landscape of the U.S. population is undergoing dramatic changes.10 Two growing groups, 

Hispanics and Asians, spent the least on canned produce in 2004, whereas Whites spent relatively more 

on canned produce. If these spending patterns continue into the future, the changing demographic 

landscape suggests a decline in spending on canned produce on a per capita basis. However, with a 

larger population, the total spending on canned produce in the United States may still increase, despite 

decreased per capita spending. An in-depth analysis is needed to gauge the effects of changing race and 

ethnic makeup on the future consumption of canned produce. 

Americans are getting older, and that aging trend is expected to boost spending on canned produce. 

Americans are also getting wealthier in the long run, and it has been well documented that as household 

income rises, food spending will rise as well.11 BLS data indicate that spending on both canned fruits 

and canned vegetables rises with income. Therefore, we would expect per capita consumption of canned 

fruits and vegetables to increase with rising income and the graying of the U.S. population in the long run. 

The American appetite for eating out is also expected to continue growing. Consequently, we expect 

these changes to affect per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables, by type and processed form. 

For example, the current demand for canned refried pinto beans, ketchup, and canned sweet corn in the 

foodservice industry may increase if this trend prevails. 

ERS studies of canned produce consumption have not used the more recent survey data because 

a technical database, along with programming to convert the amount of foods to their equivalent 

commodity components, has not yet been developed. ERS is currently working with USDA’s Agricultural 

Research Service (ARS) to fi ll this data void in order to continue estimating the type and amount of food 

commodities Americans eat and where they are eaten. 

10 According to the population projections by the U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 2008), the White population 

will decline to 72 percent by 2050, Blacks will increase to 14.6 percent, Asians will more than double to 8 percent, and “all 

other races” will be 5.3 percent. Hispanics (of any race) will almost double to 24.4 percent.

11 Given current economic events, such as declining housing prices and rising energy costs, households may not be 

considered as becoming wealthier in the short term. Our analysis takes the long-run approach, in which households have 

generally become wealthier over time.
24

Where Will Markets Head in the Future? 

Many economic, social, and demographic changes will occur simultaneously, with offsetting effects on 

the demand for canned fruits and vegetables, making it diffi cult to predict the future demand for these 

products. However, if the trends over the past 40 years shown in the food availability data prevail in the 

future, total per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables will continue to increase, the canned share 

of total fruits will hold constant at around 6 percent in the very short run, and the canned share of total 

vegetables will continue to fl uctuate—but mostly to decline—from its 24-percent level in 2008 (Figure 

14). That is, any future increase in total fruits and vegetables will likely be due to increases in noncanned 

produce.

Figure 14

Share of canned fruit and vegetables, 1970-2008

Percent share

Source: ERS Food Availability (per capita) Data System.

0 

5

10 

15

20 

25 

30 

35

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 

Canned fruits % share of total fruit

Canned vegetables % share of total vegetables

Canned vegetables

Canned fruits
25

References

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Food Imports,” U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Amber Waves,1,3 (September 

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Economic Research Service. Delivered by the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress on Sept. 30, 2008. 

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Glaser, Charles Handy, Mark Jekanowski, Phil Kaufman, Barry Krissoff, Gary Thompson, and 

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Agriculture, Economic Research Service, VGS-319-01, March. 

Available at: www.ers.usda.gov/publications/vgs/2007/03Mar/VGS31901/VGS31901.pdf.

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Available at: www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/VGS/Jan04/VGS30001/.
26

Lucier, G., and B-H. Lin. 2002. “Fresh String Beans: No Strings Attached,” U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 

Economic Research Service, Agricultural Outlook Commodity Spotlight, March, pp. 6-9. 

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27

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28

Appendix A: Sources of Data

A.1. The Food Availability Data System

The Food Availability data represent the food supply, or the disappearance of food into the food marketing 

system. In the Food Availability Data System, food available for domestic consumption is calculated as 

a residual. That is, for a given year, the total supply is the sum of production, imports, and beginning 

inventories; from this amount, exports, farm and industrial uses, and ending stocks are subtracted, leaving 

domestic consumption as the remainder. Different agencies within the U.S. Government collect these 

data directly from producers, distributors, and others, using techniques that vary by commodity. These 

data provide an alternative to using consumer surveys to examine food consumption trends.12 Per capita 

estimates are calculated by dividing the total annual availability for a commodity by the U.S. population 

for that year. The data measure the food supply of over 200 food commodities, including meats, fruits 

and vegetables, and dairy products. 

ERS manages and disseminates both the Food Availability data and the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability 

data within the Food Availability Data System posted on the ERS website. ERS is the only offi cial source 

of time series data on the food available for human consumption in the country. Accordingly, the data 

play a key role in monitoring the potential of the food supply to meet the nutritional needs of Americans 

and in examining historical consumption trends. Although the Food Availability data series does not 

directly measure actual quantities ingested, it provides an indication of whether Americans, on average, are 

consuming more or less of various foods over time. In this report, we use this data series to compare the 

amount and share of fruits and vegetables that are available fresh or in the different processed forms (e.g., 

canned, frozen, juice, and dried) and to assess how these estimates have changed between 1970 and 2008.13

In terms of pounds, the total availability of fruit (farm weight) rose 6 percent from 237.7 pounds per capita 

in 1970 to 250.9 pounds in 2008 (table A1).14 Of this amount, the total availability of fruit for canning fell 

from 25.9 pounds per capita in 1970 to 15.3 pounds in 2008 (a 41-percent decrease).

In terms of pounds, the annual per capita availability of vegetables increased 17 percent from 336.8 

pounds per capita in 1970 to 392.7 pounds in 2008 (table A2). Increases in fresh and frozen vegetables 

were the main drivers of the increase in total vegetables.

12 Because of the way the data are constructed, the data are available at the national level only and not at the State, county, or 

regional level. Additionally, the data cannot be broken up by other demographic categories.

13 Canned fruits and vegetables include those sold in metal cans, glass containers, plastic cups, or other packaging that 

permits the product to be maintained without refrigeration (i.e., to be shelf-stable). Canned fruits and vegetables in this report 

do not include boxed juice, dried fruits or vegetables (e.g., dried lentils), or potato chips. 

14 These estimates are in terms of farm weight, which is the weight of a commodity as measured on the farm before further 

conditioning and processing. The farm weight is essentially the same as the fresh-weight equivalent, which is the weight of 

processed fruits and vegetables converted to an equivalent weight of the fresh produce. 
29

Processing

Canning2 Freezing3 Dried4 Juice5

Total 

processed 

fruit6

Pounds

1970 100.8 25.9 3.9 9.9 96.6 136.9 237.7

1971 100.8 26.3 4.0 9.9 101.0 141.8 242.6

1972 94.4 24.0 4.0 7.2 101.2 137.0 231.4

1973 96.7 24.3 4.1 10.1 99.6 138.7 235.4

1974 96.1 23.9 3.3 9.6 101.4 139.1 235.2

1975 101.3 23.3 3.6 10.2 113.0 150.6 251.8

1976 102.0 23.2 3.4 13.4 115.3 155.7 257.7

1977 99.6 24.2 3.3 9.9 132.6 170.5 270.1

1978 103.4 23.9 3.7 8.6 118.8 155.8 259.2

1979 99.7 24.8 3.1 10.0 112.0 150.4 250.1

1980 106.2 24.4 3.3 11.2 119.0 158.7 264.9

1981 103.2 20.8 3.0 9.6 124.1 157.9 261.1

1982 107.8 21.9 3.3 12.0 117.3 155.0 262.8

1983 110.5 20.0 3.3 11.7 133.6 168.9 279.4

1984 112.4 19.6 3.4 12.7 117.7 153.8 266.3

1985 110.5 20.7 3.5 12.8 121.9 159.2 269.8

1986 118.4 21.0 4.1 11.5 122.6 159.5 278.0

1987 121.0 20.8 4.1 12.1 126.9 164.2 285.2

1988 121.2 20.6 4.1 14.9 112.1 152.0 273.2

1989 122.7 21.4 4.6 13.2 117.3 156.8 279.6

1990 116.5 20.8 4.3 12.1 102.7 140.3 256.8

1991 112.6 19.6 4.3 12.2 117.2 153.7 266.3

1992 123.9 22.6 4.1 10.7 105.8 143.8 267.8

1993 123.0 20.4 3.8 12.5 122.3 159.4 282.4

1994 125.0 20.6 3.9 12.7 118.7 156.4 281.4

1995 123.1 17.2 4.3 12.7 116.2 150.7 273.7

1996 126.3 18.4 4.1 11.1 126.6 160.4 286.8

1997 129.9 19.9 3.8 10.6 123.5 158.5 288.4

1998 129.1 16.9 4.3 12.1 128.6 162.3 291.4

1999 130.2 19.2 3.9 10.2 123.4 157.0 287.2

2000 128.5 17.5 4.6 10.4 124.6 157.5 286.0

2001 125.8 17.6 4.9 9.8 121.7 154.2 280.0

2002 126.8 16.7 4.1 10.4 116.7 148.0 274.9

2003 128.1 17.2 5.1 9.9 119.0 151.5 279.6

2004 127.7 16.9 4.3 9.3 119.7 150.6 278.3

2005 125.3 16.5 5.2 10.1 112.4 144.7 270.1

2006 127.9 15.4 5.0 10.4 109.3 140.8 268.8

2007 123.6 16.0 5.3 10.0 106.4 138.1 261.7

2008 126.8 15.3 4.9 10.1 93.0 124.1 250.9

Source: USDA/Economic Research Service, Food Availability data. Data last updated February 1, 2010.

1

Includes apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cherries, cantaloup, cranberries, grapes, grapefruit, honeydew, 

kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, 

strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, temples, and watermelon. 2

Includes apples, applesauce, apricots, cherries, 

olives, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, and prunes. 3

Includes apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, 

boysenberries, cherries, loganberries, peaches, plums, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, and other 

miscellaneous fruit and berries. 4

Includes apples, apricots, dates, figs, peaches, pears, prunes, and raisins. 5

Includes apple, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, pineapple, and prune juice. 6Includes apples 

used for vinegar, wine, and fresh slices for pie making. 7

Computed from unrounded data.

Table A1. Fruit by type of processing (farm weight): Per capita availability, 1970-2008

Year Fresh1 Total fruit7
30

Processing

Potatoes Total

for processed

chips vegetables6

Pounds

1970 154.3 100.6 43.8 13.2 17.4 7.5 182.5 336.8

1971 148.0 107.8 45.4 13.8 17.2 7.5 191.6 339.6

1972 151.3 104.5 45.4 13.3 16.7 6.8 186.7 338.0

1973 148.0 98.2 50.6 14.2 16.3 7.9 187.2 335.2

1974 145.9 99.3 51.3 16.1 15.7 6.2 188.6 334.5

1975 148.8 98.0 52.8 16.7 15.5 7.2 190.1 338.9

1976 148.1 103.4 57.8 17.1 15.8 6.9 201.0 349.1

1977 148.6 101.6 59.4 12.7 16.2 6.8 196.8 345.3

1978 143.4 96.6 58.9 13.4 16.5 5.8 191.1 334.5

1979 148.6 100.6 55.5 13.1 16.7 5.8 191.6 340.2

1980 151.6 102.5 51.5 10.5 16.5 5.9 187.0 338.6

1981 145.3 96.9 58.2 11.7 16.6 5.9 189.4 334.6

1982 151.2 95.1 54.4 12.4 17.0 7.7 186.5 337.7

1983 151.5 96.4 55.8 11.6 17.8 6.7 188.4 339.9

1984 156.9 102.6 62.7 11.8 18.0 5.8 200.8 357.7

1985 158.9 99.2 64.5 12.8 17.6 7.4 201.4 360.3

1986 159.0 99.5 64.4 12.8 18.1 7.1 202.0 360.9

1987 168.6 98.9 67.0 12.3 17.6 6.0 201.7 370.3

1988 174.4 94.6 64.2 12.1 17.1 7.4 195.4 369.9

1989 180.7 101.6 67.4 12.4 17.4 6.0 204.9 385.6

1990 176.4 110.3 66.8 14.6 16.4 7.2 215.2 391.6

1991 176.3 112.4 72.4 15.4 17.3 7.9 225.3 401.6

1992 179.8 110.0 70.5 14.3 17.1 8.4 220.3 400.1

1993 187.8 109.8 75.3 15.7 17.7 7.7 226.2 414.0

1994 193.3 109.6 77.5 14.2 16.5 8.1 226.0 419.3

1995 188.1 108.2 78.8 14.5 16.4 8.4 226.4 414.5

1996 193.2 106.4 83.3 17.5 16.4 8.1 231.8 424.9

1997 199.0 105.5 80.0 16.4 15.5 8.3 225.6 424.6

1998 195.5 105.3 80.3 17.6 14.7 8.1 226.0 421.6

1999 201.3 102.9 80.8 14.6 15.9 8.4 222.6 423.9

2000 200.7 103.2 79.3 17.3 15.9 8.5 224.1 424.9

2001 198.1 96.5 79.4 15.8 17.6 7.7 217.0 415.1

2002 197.5 100.4 76.9 15.8 16.5 7.5 217.1 414.6

2003 201.0 100.9 78.9 17.3 17.3 7.3 221.6 422.6

2004 204.8 102.6 78.9 15.3 16.6 6.7 220.0 424.8

2005 196.8 105.0 76.6 13.9 16.2 6.9 218.6 415.4

2006 194.1 94.5 74.6 14.2 18.8 7.5 209.6 403.7

2007 194.7 97.2 76.2 14.1 18.7 7.6 213.8 408.4

2008 187.7 95.2 73.1 13.9 15.9 7.0 205.0 392.7

Source: USDA/Economic Research Service, Food Availability data. Data last updated February 1, 2010.

1Includes artichokes, asparagus, snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, 

cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, garlic, head, romaine, and leaf lettuce, mushrooms, onions, bell 

peppers, potatoes, radishes, spinach, sweetpotatoes, and tomatoes. 2Includes asparagus, lima beans, snap 

beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, mushrooms, green peas, chile peppers, potatoes, 

spinach, tomatoes, and other miscellaneous vegetables. 3Includes asparagus, lima beans, snap beans, 

broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, sweet corn, green peas, potatoes, spinach, and other miscellaneous 

vegetables. 4Includes potatoes and onions. 5At this this time dry field peas and lentils are not available and 

therefore are not included in the total legumes. 6Computed from unrounded data.

Table A2. Vegetables by type of processing (farm weight): Per capita availability, 1970-2008

Year Fresh1 Total 

vegetables6 Canning2 Freezing3 Dried4 Legumes5
31

The Food Availability data overstate the amount of food actually ingested by capturing substantial 

quantities of food lost to human use through waste and spoilage beyond the farm gate, in the marketing 

system, and at home. In order to obtain a closer approximation of what Americans, on average, consume 

over time on an annual and daily basis, a second data series, the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data, 

adjusts the Food Availability data for:

1. Loss from pr imary (i.e., farm) to retail weight. 

2. Loss from retail/insti tutional level to the consumer level (e.g., in supermarkets, megastores like 

Walmart, and other retail outlets). 

3. Loss at the consumer level. This includes losses for food consumed at home and away from home 

(e.g., in restaurants, fast food outlets, etc.) and has two components:

(a) “Nonedible share” of a food (e.g., asparagus stalk, apple core). Data on the nonedible share 

is from the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference compiled by USDA’s ARS

(b) “Cooking loss and uneaten food such as plate waste” from the edible share.

The goal of accounting for these three general types of losses is to more closely approximate actual food 

intake. In addition to estimates of per capita consumption, the data are presented in two forms:

1. The number of calories available per capita per day, and

2. The number of MyPyramid equivalents available per capita per day, which can be used for 

comparison with dietary recommendations for the U.S. population (e.g., Wells and Buzby, 2008). 

Figure A1 illustrates the multistage process that takes the per capita annual estimates for canned 

sweet corn from the farm to the table.

Each commodity in the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data has a spreadsheet posted on the ERS 

website that provides the loss assumptions currently used by ERS (see http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/

FoodConsumpton/FoodGuideIndex.htm). Additionally, each fruit and vegetable has a separate 

spreadsheet for each product form. For example, apples have spreadsheets for fresh, frozen, dehydrated/

dried, and canned apples, as well as for apples processed into juice. Vegetables do not have tables for 

juice, but have tables for legumes and potatoes processed into chips. The Loss-Adjusted Food Availability 

data for canned fruits and vegetables are provided in tables 1 and 2 of this report.

It is important to note that like the core Food Availability data, this data series is based on the food that is 

available for consumption and does not represent data from consumer surveys.15 Traditionally, ERS 

15 Most consumer surveys of dietary intake cover from 1 year to several years of consumption, and most are not nationally 

representative of the U.S. population. Moreover, time series data on actual consumption by Americans are lacking.
32

uses the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data series to track the dietary status of Americans as compared 

with Federal dietary recommendations. In this report, however, ERS uses the data to estimate how much 

of the different kinds of canned fruits and vegetables Americans are consuming over time.

Figure A1

Loss-adjusted food availability data for canned sweet corn, U.S. per capita, in 2008

 

 

 

 

 

Loss-adjusted

quantity available:

Consumer weight: 4.6 lbs

(per capita in 2008)

Farm weight: 4.6 lbs

(per capita in 2008)

Retail weight: 4.9 lbs

(per capita in 2008)

Loss at consumer level:10%

(includes spoilage, plate

waste, and losses from

nonedible parts, e.g. stems

and cores)

Loss from retail-toconsumer: 6%

Loss from farm-to-retail: 27%

(1) 4.2 lbs per capita in 2008

(2) 0.2 oz (5.2 grams) per capita per day

(3) 4.2 calories consumed per day

(4) .03 MyPyramid equivalents per day
33

A2. Consumer Expenditure Survey 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE). A major objective of 

the survey is to collect information necessary to construct the Consumer Price Indices. The CE features 

two components, each with its own questionnaire and sample:

1. A quarterly interview panel survey in which each of approximately 11,000 households is surveyed 

every 3 months over a 1-year period.

2. A weekly diary survey of approximately 7,800 households that keep an expenditure record for two 

consecutive 1-week periods. The diary data from 2004 and 2008 are analyzed in this report.

The diary survey obtains data on small, frequently purchased items that are normally diffi cult for 

people to recall, including food and beverages, tobacco, housekeeping supplies, nonprescription drugs, 

personal care products and services, fuels, and utilities. The survey excludes expenditures incurred 

while respondents are away from home for one night or longer. In addition to reporting expenditures, 

respondents also report data on income, social, and demographic characteristics. Therefore, CE data 

are useful for estimating per capita spending on various food and nonfood items by income, social, and 

demographic characteristics of the U.S. population.
34

A3. The Food Intake Data

Since 2000, ERS researchers have developed and used a methodology to analyze food intake survey 

data to examine the infl uences of income and demographic factors on the consumption of produce and 

animal products. Over 20 analyses have been conducted to study the consumption of specifi c fruits 

and vegetables (e.g., apples, carrots, and potatoes).16 These studies were mostly based on food intake 

data collected by USDA. USDA has conducted periodic surveys of household and individual food 

consumption in the United States since the 1930s. During 1994-96 and 1998, the Continuing Survey of 

Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII, 1994-96 and 1998) was the last food consumption survey conducted 

by ARS to collect data on the type and amount of foods eaten by Americans (USDA/ARS, 2000). In 

addition to food intake data, ARS developed the Food Commodity Intake Database (FCID) (EPA, 2000), 

providing data on the edible amount of agricultural food commodities contained in each food reported 

eaten in CSFII. 

Besides food intake, CSFII also collects demographic information, such as household size, income, race, 

age, and gender, and information on where a food was purchased, how it was prepared, and where it was 

eaten. The data are particularly valuable for measuring the effect of social, economic, and demographic 

characteristics on food consumption. 

The 1994-96 and 1998 CSFII was the last food consumption survey conducted exclusively by USDA. 

The data have become dated. Currently, USDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) to collect food consumption data as part of the National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (CDC 

is part of DHHS). Work is underway to develop a Food Commodity Economic Database (a modifi ed 

FCID database) to continue studying food and commodity consumption using survey data that has been 

collected since 1999.

16 Whether or not canned products were included in these studies depended on the type of produce. The depth of each 

analysis depended on the type of publication ERS researchers used to disseminate fi ndings. For example, Commodity 

Spotlight articles in Agricultural Outlook (this publication was later replaced by Amber Waves) were short and hence only 

highlighted selected fi ndings. There were also a number of studies published as ERS Outlook Report articles, which provided 

more detailed description of produce consumption. These ERS publications are listed in the references of this report and are 

available on the ERS website—under “Who eats what and where” in http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefi ng/DietQuality/whoeats.

htm. In addition, some of the research fi ndings were published in journals. Interested readers should contact Biing-Hwan Lin 

of ERS (blin@ers.usda.gov) for more information.