Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-20
AMERICANS AS EATERS.
Consume More Nuts and Fruit Than
 the Other Mathematics.

Washington, D. C., July 20.--Am.
 ericans are the largest consumers oi
 fruits and nuts in the world and
 every housekeeper in the land will be
 interested in knowing that, with few
 exceptions, this country is able now
 to produce practically an adequate
 supply of these commodities without
 assistance from foreign lands. In
 fact. were 1t not for the considerable
 amount of fruits exported to other countries. the domestic supply, in some instances would be greater
 than the home demand.
 A few kinds of fruits and nuts. which are used largely in the United States, are not produced here to any great extent. Lemons, bananas, CO., coanuts, English walnuts and al- monds are imported largely although few of them-particularly lemons and English walnuts are raised in this country.
 It is worthy of notice, as shown in statistics compiled by the government.
 that the home production of oranges. prunes and raislns practically has ex- cluded the foreign product from the American market. An enormous in- crease in the production of these fruits has taken place Within the past de- cade. Going back twenty years, the importation of fruits and nuts arrre- gated in value s2O,666,666, while the exportation of domestic fruits and nuts amounted to only aDout S2,5OO.- OOO. During the fiscal year ended June 30 last, the importations of all kinds of fruits and nuts amounted to about $35,000,000, while the ex- ports of our own products aggregat- cd ST, ,250. .000-about half of the value of the imports. In twenty years, the imports have increased less than so per cent, while the exports have lD- creased 540 per cent.
 The increase in importations is shown to be due entirely to the growth ir importations of fruits and nuts which are not produced in quaD, titles in America. yet of which Am erlcans consume large amount. Im- portations of bananas. for instance, have advanced from a little over S2,- 100000 twenty years ago, to $12.OO0,- 900 during the past year. Almonds have advanced from s600,OOO to s2,- 333, 900, and all other nuts---chieay English walnuts-from $TO0,0O0 to about S6.0O0OOO.
 In the same period. importat.ons of oranges have decreasea from 3D. 5O0,000 to less than $400,0OO: raisins. from $2.2J0.OO0 to less than $4OO, 900; and prunes from $3.OO0.O00 to less than S50lO0O. Lemons have remained substantially stationary. the greatly increased consumption in the twenty year period having been met by home production.
 Of course, in the production of ap- pies, pears. peaches and such staple fruits. America has no rival. 1t is only in the production of citrus and fruits that any country ran surpass the United States. This country now is exporting tremendous quantities. not only of the staple fruits mentioned. but of oranges, prunes and raisins. and the exports Ire increasing year by year. The l finest oranges. apples. pears. peaches. ] lrunes and raisins In the world are raised in the United States and the demand for them abroad is increasing The high prices of these fruits in this country is due entirely o the foreign demand. It sa fact hat one can procure in the markets Cf he continental capitals really finer qualities of American fruit than he an buy in the ordinary markets of his eoutnry. because of the very high lrices offered by foreign dealers for he highest grades of American fruits.