Per capita fruit and vegetable consumption

Per capita fruit and vegetable consumption fell steadily from 2005 through 2009, primarily because of the rising costs of these crops, which can be linked to rising oil costs. As the United States increasingly looked to alternatives like biofuels, demand for crops that can be converted into biofuel has grown. Though fruits and vegetables are food staples, high prices have caused them to comprise a smaller portion of consumers' diets in recent decades. This was especially the case in 2008 when per capita fruit and vegetable consumption fell 2.7% to 651.6 pounds per person (however, it should be noted that consumption for goods dropped in response to the recession at the time) After declining slightly in 2009, consumption rebounded 1.1% starting in 2010 with promising signs of a economic recovery. The rebound was short-lived; however, as vegetable prices rose again, it led to a 2.4% decline in per capita consumption in 2011 and a relatively modest decline of 0.1% in 2012. Since then, consumption trends have been mixed. This pattern continued through 2016 and 2019 with steady volatility.

It should be noted that a growing number of consumers have become more health-conscious in recent times. It should be noted that 2022 was tough for growers of fruits and vegetables because of rising drought conditions and inflationary pressures, which have contributed to the constrained supply of these items. As a result, the prices for these goods have risen significantly in the year. While rising prices for goods result in consumers buying less of these goods, the benefit of fruits and vegetables being viewed as a sustainable dietary staple universally adopted by most consumers has helped make them an essential grocery item, which has helped fuel demand in the year. However, as inflationary pressures have persisted throughout the year, consumers have become more cost-conscious about the amount of goods purchased, resulting in these goods being consumed less than in the pre-pandemic years. An eventual recovery of the economy and prices for various goods will fuel consumer spending more, boosting consumption of normal goods like fruits and vegetables in 2025.