Silo: Most Imported Fruits and Vegetables to the United States (2024)

The food industry has undergone significant changes over the years. To meet the growing demand for fruit and vegetables and deliver fresh produce to Americans all year round, the United States is increasing efforts to both grow food locally and participate in the international trade market, importing various products from countries like Mexico and Canada.

Between 2007 and 2021, the U.S. saw a significant increase in the amount of imported produce, with supply increasing from 50% to 60% for fruits and 20% to 38% for vegetables. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the import share increased by 20% for asparagus, avocados, blueberries, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, snap beans, and raspberries in particular.

Let’s look at what the United States is importing and from where. We’ll also discuss the benefits of importing versus growing locally.

Why import fruits and vegetables instead of growing locally?

Let's discuss why some produce businesses choose to import fruits and vegetables instead of growing them locally and the benefits of doing so.

Quality

First and foremost, imported food can, in some cases, simply be of higher quality. Crop conditions can vary greatly depending on the season, especially during winter, with the weather affecting quality and quantity. Therefore, many businesses choose to import produce from countries with optimal produce-specific conditions to meet consumer supply and demand.

Moreover, the USDA highly regulates imported food, while locally-grown food does not always follow the same standards. Imported produce goes through an extensive hydroponics quality check, including biological pest control.

Save on costs and energy

There are cases in which it is cheaper to import produce than grow it locally. This is usually because of the value of the foreign dollar.

For example, according to the International Trade Centre’s Trade Map, the U.S. buys 86% of the avocados that Mexico exports. It’s common for this fruit to be grown more affordably in Mexico than at a farm in California.

Growing certain produce elsewhere can also be more energy-efficient than in the United States. Produce businesses can thus save on production and shipping while ensuring sustainability.

More choices

Importing food means more choices for consumers. The increased interest in nutritious diets means that, for businesses, it can be hard to pass up any kind of produce, whether it’s grown locally or internationally.

Weather and climate changes can make growing certain foods domestically difficult, making imports an even more attractive option.

Better for the economy

The importing and exporting processes create jobs, making use of a variety of skills to stimulate the economy.

According to the Cato Institute, America’s agriculture industry receives over $30 billion a year in government subsidies. As a result, importing a certain amount of fruits and vegetables has the potential to save taxpayers money.

Top suppliers of fruits, organized by country

So which country supplies the most fruit to the United States? Here’s what you need to know.

The most imported fruits in the United States

Keeping in mind that Mexico is the top supplier of fruit to the U.S., it may come as no surprise, then, that the most imported fruit is avocado. The Hass avocado in particular has a market volume growth of over one hundred million.

Here’s a list of other notable imported fruits.

The top suppliers of vegetables

Mexico is also the top supplier of vegetables for the United States, holding its place since 2019. Tomatoes are one of the top products imported from Mexico to the United States, making up 31% of the global share.

The most imported vegetables in the United States

Here’s more on the highest amount of imported vegetables, their market value, and where they came from, based on data from the USDA.

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