WASHINGTON: U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables grew at double-digit rates in 2016 while U.S. exports were flat. Imports of fresh fruits grew 10%, to $12.4 billion in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the value of imports of fresh vegetables rose 14% to $8 billion. Mexico last year supplied 70% of total U.S. vegetable imports and 31% of all U.S. fruit imports, according to the USDA. Chile supplied 17% of U.S. fruit imports in 2016. Canada was a major supplier of fresh vegetables, with 16% of all U.S. fresh vegetable imports in 2016.
In 2016, U.S. exports of fresh fruits were unchanged from 2015 at $4.5 billion, according to the USDA. U.S. exports of fresh vegetables rose 2% to $2.4 billion in 2016. Canada purchased 75% of U.S. vegetable exports and 36% of U.S. fruit exports in 2016; Mexico purchased 11% of U.S. fruit exports and 4% of U.S. vegetable exports, according to USDA statistics.
