WASHINGTON (FNS) -- American consumers ate a record 100 pounds of fresh fruit per person in 1994, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
Within the fresh fruit market, overall per capita consumption of non-citrus fruit increased to 75.65 pounds per person, up from 1993's level of less than 74 pounds.
Fresh citrus fruit consumption last year dipped to 24.93 pounds per person, from a 10-year high of close to 26 pounds in 1993.
Total fruit consumption, which includes non-fresh categories such as juice and processed products, declined slightly, the report showed.
USDA pinned the consumption decline of non-fresh fruit, to 176 pounds from 179 pounds per person, on a decrease in production and increase in demand for exports of non-citrus fruit, leaving less to be used for processing. Some fruit categories showed individual gains last year. For example, consumption of bananas, which continued as the nation's favorite fresh fruit, increased to 28.1 pounds per person from 26.8 pounds. Among the fresh non-citrus fruit categories to post consumption declines were peaches and nectarines, which fell to 5.46 pounds from the 1993 level of almost 6 pounds. USDA said consumption of avocados and kiwifruit also waned in 1994, although its report didn't provide specific figures.
Citrus fruit consumption in 1994 declined largely due to a drop in consumption for California fresh oranges, which dipped to 13.1 pounds per person from 14.2 pounds in 1993. Florida grapefruit consumption was also off slightly at 6 pounds per person.