United States

Department

of Agriculture

www.ers.usda.gov

Electronic Outlook Report from the Economic Research Service

FAU-79-01

July 2003

Import Share Of U.S. Food

Consumption Stable At 

11 Percent

Abstract 

As U.S. per capita consumption of food grew from an average 1,800 pounds per year in

the early 1980s to more than 2,000 pounds in recent years, the import share of U.S.

consumed food climbed from 8 percent to more than 11 percent. The import shares

of U.S. consumption of animal products and food crops both increased in the past two

decades, with the aggregate share of fruits and vegetables at least twice as large as that

of animal products.

Keywords: Import share, food consumption, food imports.

About the Author

Andy Jerardo is an agricultural economist with the Market and Trade Economics

Division in USDA’s Economic Research Service. 

Andy Jerardo
U.S. per capita food consumption grew from about

1,800 pounds per year in the early 1980s to more than

2,000 pounds in 2000. In this period, the average share

of imports in U.S. food consumption climbed from

approximately 8 percent to more than 11 percent.

While the average U.S. resident consumed 20 percent

more fruits, vegetables, and cereals over the past two

decades, consumption of animal products increased by

only 7 percent. In 2001, the U.S. import share of consumption for animal products was 4.6 percent, while

the share for crops and products was 16 percent. These

shares are up from 3.4 and 10 percent, respectively, in

the early 1980s.

A gradual rise in the share of food crops and products

and a decline in the share of meat and dairy products

in U.S. food consumption occurred in the past 20

years. In 2000, crops and products made up 57 percent

of the average U.S. diet, and animal products comprised the remaining 43 percent. These relative shares

were 54 and 46 percent, respectively, in 1981.

Specifically, U.S. per capita consumption of red meat

fell from more than 9 percent of the average U.S. diet

in the 1980s to less than 8 percent in recent years.

Dairy products declined from 30 to 28 percent in the

same period. On the other hand, the consumption

share of vegetables rose from 19 percent to 21 percent,

and grain cereals went up from 8 to 9.5 percent in that

period. Clearly, the perceived health-related benefits of

more plant fiber and less animal fat in diets shaped the

pattern of U.S. food consumption. These long-term

trends, moreover, tend to favor more imports of foreign food products, e.g., due to higher off-season fruit

demand.

2 Economic Research Service, USDA

The New American Diet

Summary import shares of U.S. food consumption1

Average Average Average Average

1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1997-2001

Percent

Average import share of

total food consumed 7.8 8.6 9.4 10.4 10.9 11.2 11.2 11.1 11.2 11.1

Animal products2 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.6 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.3

Red meat 6.7 8.1 7.3 6.4 7.1 7.7 8.2 8.9 9.3 8.2

Dairy products 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.6

Fish and shellfish 50.9 56.0 56.0 58.5 62.1 64.7 68.1 68.3 68.2 66.3

Animal fat 1.0 1.6 3.5 3.6 5.9 5.5 5.9 6.9 2.6 5.4

Crops and products3 11.5 12.6 13.9 15.6 16.3 16.3 16.3 16.2 16.4 16.3

Fruits, juices and nuts 14.1 17.9 17.0 16.9 18.8 18.4 21.0 21.9 21.4 20.3

Vegetables 4.7 6.0 5.9 7.8 7.9 9.0 9.0 8.7 9.4 8.8

Vegetable oils 15.5 17.6 17.4 19.3 19.4 16.3 16.9 18.3 15.5 17.3

Grain products 1.1 2.3 4.8 3.9 5.8 5.3 5.3 4.6 4.9 5.2

Sweeteners and candy 21.6 11.9 10.8 15.2 16.1 12.9 11.0 9.8 9.7 11.9

1Calculated from units of weight, weight equivalents, or content weight.

2Import shares of poultry and eggs are negligible, but accounted for. Red meats are estimated from carcass weights.

3Includes coffee, cocoa, and tea whose import shares are 100 percent; also includes wine and beer.
The import share of a food product is the ratio of its

imported volume to total volume consumed.

Year-to-year effects on the demand for food imports

include short-term changes in domestic food supply,

the cost of imported food, and taste preferences, such

as for food fads. Longer term factors that drive import

demand include income growth, a sustained exchangerate appreciation, and changes in diet that increase the

demand for food products not readily available in large

quantities in the United States, particularly tropical

fruits and crops not available during the off-season.

Among the fastest growing U.S. food imports are red

meats, fish, and shellfish. Imports of vegetables such

as bell and chili peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, onions, and olives have also risen significantly

since 1990. Further, the import shares of fruits, wheat,

rice, candy, wine, and beer jumped dramatically as

U.S. tastes shifted. More reliable supplies from foreign

sources, particularly during the off-season, improved

shipping and storage technology; and wider U.S. ethnic diet preferences contributed to these import trends

over time.

Helping drive the sharp rise in import share of U.S.-

consumed foods from 1996 to 2001 were the robust

U.S. economy and the strong dollar. The increase in

the import share of red meats from 6.5 percent of red

meat consumption to more than 9 percent (in carcass

weight) during this period was also due to widespread

liquidation of the U.S. cattle herd, which cut the

domestic supply of processing beef. Also, the economic recession in many Asian countries diverted

Australian and New Zealand meat to the U.S. market.

The phased lifting of tariffs on Mexican fruit and vegetable exports to the United States as mandated by the

North American Free Trade Agreement induced growers in Mexico to ship more of their produce across the

U.S. border. Mexico is now the source of 27 percent of

U.S. fruit imports and 38 percent of vegetable imports.

Tomatoes and bell and chili peppers lead vegetable

imports from Mexico. Off-season fruit imports from

Chile and Argentina, and vegetable imports from Peru,

Ecuador, and other South American countries are driving up overall U.S. import shares of these crops. Latin

American countries supply an additional 40 percent of

U.S. imported fruits (in weight terms), chiefly

bananas, grapes, and melons.

Economic Research Service, USDA 3

Factors That Influence U.S. Food Imports
Although U.S. per capita consumption of red meat

dropped from an average 175 pounds per year in the

early 1980s to 164 pounds in 2000, the import share of

pork rose from 3 to 5 percent, and import share for

lamb meat quadrupled between those years. Fish and

shellfish import share reached 68 percent in 2001, up

from 45 percent in 1980. Even beef's import share rose

from 8 to 11.6 percent from 1996 to 2001.

The import share of fresh fruits also more than doubled from 9 percent in 1985 to 23 percent in 2001.

Among the fastest growing are avocados, mangos,

melons, grapes, and pears. For fruit juices—mainly

orange, apple, and grape—overall import share rose

from 11.6 to 32 percent in the past two decades.

Among tree nuts, 49 percent of which were imported

in 2001 versus only 27 percent in 1985, the import

share of pecans shot up from 1.5 percent to 17 percent.

Equally dramatic growth in import share of vegetables

occurred since 1985. For fresh and frozen vegetables

as a group, the share doubled from 8 percent to 17 percent in 2001. Tomatoes' import share reached 36 percent in 2001, up from only 21 percent in 1990.

Asparagus' share almost quadrupled from 16 percent

to 60 percent. For olives (processed), the respective

shares are 43 to 60 percent. And for artichokes and

spices, the corresponding estimates more than doubled.

From less than 1-percent import share in 1980, wheat

and rice expanded significantly to 11 percent in 2001.

Also, the import share of confectionery products quintupled, as did malt beverages. Import shares fell for

cheese, vegetable oils, and sugar.

These overall rising trends in import shares of major

foods are largely demand-driven, by both per capita

U.S. income growth and the appreciation of the dollar

over the past decade. At the same time, the need for

export earnings has likewise induced foreign producers

to supply the large U.S. market.

4 Economic Research Service, USDA

Food Import Growth Patterns
Economic Research Service, USDA 5

Import share of U.S. food consumption

Average

imports,

Selected items 1980 1985 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1999-2000

Percent $ million

Beef 8.7 8.0 9.7 8.1 7.9 9.0 9.9 10.6 11.0 11.6 2,151.3

Pork 3.3 7.1 5.6 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.4 5.2 5.1 633.2

Lamb 9.5 9.4 10.2 18.4 21.7 25.0 31.2 31.3 36.6 39.8 206.7

Fish and shellfish 45.3 53.8 56.3 55.3 58.5 62.1 64.7 68.1 68.3 68.2 9,341.1

Fresh and frozen 56.8 62.8 65.8 66.0 70.6 74.3 76.6 78.5 81.7 83.3 N.A.

Canned 21.8 34.9 36.0 30.8 29.8 33.0 36.1 43.8 38.4 35.7 N.A.

Dairy products 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.8 1,650.7

Cheese 5.8 5.6 4.8 4.7 4.5 4.1 4.5 5.3 4.8 5.1 706.5

Fruits--fresh and

frozen 5.8 9.0 13.2 15.6 16.9 18.0 19.5 21.5 22.3 23.1 2,028.5

Citrus, fresh 2.1 3.1 3.6 7.3 6.7 7.5 8.2 13.6 11.8 12.5 220.4

Non-citrus, fresh 7.3 10.9 16.0 18.2 20.2 21.6 23.3 23.4 25.3 26.4 1,808.1

Apples 4.0 5.9 4.3 6.1 7.7 7.3 7.0 6.6 7.2 7.0 99.6

Avocados 1.6 1.6 7.3 11.6 12.0 14.1 18.4 31.0 26.0 29.8 83.3

Grapes 12.6 29.6 41.1 41.8 37.8 41.9 42.8 43.1 44.3 44.5 548.4

Melons 10.5 9.7 15.4 17.2 18.8 22.4 25.3 23.6 26.2 24.1 276.7

Pears 3.4 6.8 11.4 11.6 14.1 20.9 16.0 21.1 21.2 20.6 77.2

Strawberries 22.1 10.0 13.0 12.3 10.6 8.5 10.1 14.3 10.8 11.3 85.5

Fruits--processed 1.7 2.2 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 3.2 3.3 3.3 681.2

Fruit juices 11.6 50.4 48.7 27.2 27.2 32.8 28.9 34.9 31.9 31.5 734.4

Orange juice 8.9 55.4 56.1 19.3 15.1 20.5 17.1 21.6 20.8 17.4 238.1

Apple juice 19.3 60.3 58.0 52.1 53.5 62.2 63.3 60.3 61.6 63.4 239.9

Grape juice 2.0 11.3 33.7 21.5 47.7 62.1 29.9 55.0 39.3 41.1 64.8

Tree nuts 25.6 26.8 35.7 34.1 43.9 44.5 42.0 46.8 39.3 48.9 718.2

Pecans 0.3 1.5 8.7 25.7 27.3 21.9 21.7 23.4 24.5 17.2 68.3

Wine 20.7 23.1 13.0 15.8 18.8 23.0 20.7 20.0 21.4 22.6 2,191.9

Vegetables--fresh,

frozen 5.9 8.0 9.6 11.2 13.6 13.3 15.5 14.7 14.0 16.6 2,793.4

Asparagus 10.8 16.2 29.8 53.3 48.8 49.3 54.4 57.0 59.0 59.7 117.9

Cucumbers 36.0 36.3 33.7 38.3 42.9 38.1 40.2 39.7 42.4 44.2 169.2

Onions 5.5 8.7 10.1 10.2 12.6 11.2 11.9 11.4 9.3 12.3 146.4

Peppers, bell 26.5 23.7 19.7 19.1 19.8 22.5 24.8 24.4 22.2 26.0 428.2

Potatoes 1.9 3.7 5.8 5.2 7.3 5.8 8.2 6.9 6.0 5.0 408.6

Squash N.A. N.A. 19.8 24.3 29.4 29.3 30.0 29.3 27.2 N.A. 117.9

Tomatoes 22.3 24.0 20.5 30.5 34.6 35.8 38.6 32.8 32.4 35.5 692.2

Vegetables

--processed 1.7 3.3 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.8 1.8 2.2 1.8 2.0 1,996.9

Artichokes 20.6 23.2 25.7 39.0 42.5 41.9 50.4 46.3 47.9 48.6 66.4

Mushrooms 31.3 30.8 24.3 35.3 26.0 34.0 36.5 24.7 36.7 35.3 113.9

Olives 21.8 43.7 47.0 60.0 37.1 56.0 67.0 50.2 78.8 60.1 192.8

Vegetable oils 16.9 20.1 16.5 16.8 19.3 19.4 16.3 16.9 18.3 15.5 1,359.2

Olive oil1 96.6 98.2 103.1 109.6 106.5 105.9 104.9 104.4 104.9 105.0 384.2

Canola oil1 100.0 100.0 105.4 87.5 97.5 98.1 85.5 81.7 69.7 76.5 250.5
6 Economic Research Service, USDA

Import share of U.S. food consumption—continued

Average

imports,

Selected items 1980 1985 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1999-2000

Percent $ million

Spices 4.8 7.3 7.7 6.4 8.4 8.9 10.3 13.1 14.3 15.4 66.8

Wheat 0.3 2.1 4.1 6.9 9.3 9.4 10.4 9.3 8.7 10.7 252.3

Rice 0.3 3.4 5.1 7.2 10.3 9.0 9.4 8.3 9.4 11.0 178.6

Barley 3.3 3.5 7.7 23.7 21.4 23.4 17.5 16.1 17.0 13.9 79.8

Cane and beet

sugar 45.4 34.9 29.9 19.6 29.3 28.4 22.0 18.2 16.4 15.5 542.3

Confectionery

products 5.4 20.9 17.1 14.2 16.2 18.6 22.7 26.5 28.7 27.3 732.2

Malt beverages 2.6 4.2 4.5 5.8 6.5 7.2 8.3 9.0 9.9 10.7 2,095.7

N.A. = Not available.

1When some imports are re-exported and consumption falls below import levels, import share exceeds 100 percent.

Source: Economic Research Service, USDA.