Lemons and limes continue to grow in per capita consumpution, according to USDA figures.
Between 2010 and 2018, per capita lemon availability grew 46%, from 2.8 pounds in 2010 to 4.1 pounds in 2018, the USDA reported.
For limes, the growth is slightly more impressive, rising from 2.6 pounds in 2010 to 3.9 pounds in 2018, an increase of 50%.
U.S. imports of both citrus varieties have been going up. For lemons, imports have grown from 93 million pounds in 2010 to 322 pounds in 2019, a gain of 246%. In the same time period, domestic lemon supply increased from 968 million pounds to 1.41 billion pounds, a gain of 46%.
The import share of the total U.S. lemon supply was 19% in 2019; in 2010, the import share of the total U.S. lemon supply was 9%.
For limes, the USDA does not record any domestic lime production as of 2019. U.S. imports of limes have increased from about 800 million pounds in 2010 to 1.36 billion pounds in 2019.