Between September 2019 through August U.S. imports of fresh vegetables were up 11 percent, according to the USDA.
While fresh vegetable imports were up by double-digit percentages, the USDA reported fresh and frozen fruit imports gained just 2 percent compared with the previous year.
Among vegetables with big import gains, the USDA noted fresh garlic imports for the year ending in August were up 58 percent — the result of a COVID-19 immunity buying frenzy. Other double digit gains were noted for tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, potatoes and beans.
Fast-rising imports of fruit commodities were noted for mangoes (up 15 percent) and kiwifruit (up 19 percent),
By fresh commodities (except as noted), U.S. imports from September 2019 through August, with percent change compared with the previous year, are:
- Berries: $2.93 billion, up 5%;
- Tomatoes: $2.68 billion, up 17%;
- Avocados: $2.59 billion, down 2%;
- Fresh or frozen bananas/plantains: $2.45 billion, up 2%;
- Peppers: $1.73 billion, up 4%;
- Grapes: $1.67 billion: up 4%;
- Citrus: $1.30 billion, up 6%;
- Fresh or frozen strawberries: $1.05 billion, up 5%;
- Cucumbers: $894.9 million, up 10%;
- Fresh or frozen pineapples: $661.2 million, up 3%;
- Asparagus: $653 million, down 5%;
- Mangoes: $633.4 million, up 15%;
- Melons: $608.3 million, down 10%;
- Squash: $473.99 million, up 27%;
- Onions: $456.4 million, up 4%;
- Lettuce: $374.4 million, up 9%;
- Cauliflower and broccoli: $351.7 million, up 6%;
- Potatoes: $259.1 million, up 31%;
- Garlic: $234.8 million, up 58%;
- Beans: $165.45 million, up 15%;
- Kiwifruit: $159.88 million, up 19%;
- Apples: $153.6 million: down 27%; and
- Pears: $109.3 million, down 6%.