Apples are an important component of U.S. fruit consumption. Estimated per capita consumption in 1988 (fresh and processed) was approximately 28.0 pounds, ranking apples below oranges and above any other fruit. Per capita fresh consumption, at 19.1 pounds, also ranked second nationally, below bananas at 24.2 pounds, but above oranges at 14.5 pounds (Putnam, 1990). Although fresh imports and exports are rising, the industry (unlike bananas or even oranges) is dominated by domestic production.
Table 1 provides an illustration, drawing upon the record of fresh
apple production at 5-year intervals since the 1973 crop year.
Increased per capita consumption, together with increased population,
has increased domestic production by more than 50 percent during this
period. The U.S. is a net exporter of fresh apples and an importer of
juice concentrate (Table 1 and footnote). Total processing uses
consume less than half of the annual crop, usually about 41-43
percent. Almost all of the increase in processed apple production has
been for juice consumption. Fresh imports shown in Table 1 are apples
from the southern hemisphere and recently have included large
shipments of Granny Smith apples from New Zealand.
Table 1: Estimated Utilization of Annual Apple Production, Selected Crop Years, United States, 1973-1990. (Thousands of 42-lb. units) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1978 | 1983 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 (Estimated) | |
| TOTAL FRESH | 83,700 | 100,500 | 109,995 | 124,769 | 139,999 | 134,320 |
| (Exports) | (4,333) | (7,762) | (11,714) | (13,083) | (17,496) | (16,000) |
| Not Marketed | (321) | (1,267) | (490) | 1,181 | 1,081 | 1,001 |
| TOTAL PROCESSED | 64,514 | 79,362 | 88,871 | 91,455 | 96,307 | 95,700 |
| Canned | 29,869 | 29,133 | 28,590 | 33,312 | 31,395 | 30,300 |
| Juicer | 19,526 | 35,590 | 47,226 | 43,443 | 49,183 | 50,000 |
| Dried | 6,064 | 5,262 | 6,745 | 6,786 | 6,724 | 6,400 |
| Frozen | 5,998 | 4,938 | 4,038 | 6,326 | 7,655 | 7,500 |
| Other | 3,057 | 4,438 | 2,271 | 1,588 | 1,350 | 1,500 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 148,217 | 179,862 | 198,867 | 217,405 | 237,276 | 231,021 |
| (Imports)* | (2,143) | (3,738) | (5,571) | (6,096) | (5,589) | (6,200) |
| *The U.S. also imports juice concentrate not shown here. Usually, half or more of U.S. juice consumption is from imported concentrate (52.4 million bushels (equivalent) in 1989). | ||||||
| Source: 1973-1989 Crop Years, Crop Reporting Board, Statistical Reporting Service, USDA, Washington, D.C. Estimates for 1990 by International Apple Institute, Box 1137, McLean, Virginia. | ||||||