Tropical Fruits Available in USA
Globalization has made people around the world aware of one another’s cultures and cuisines. America is also a melting pot of various ethnicities. Diverse customers in USA are now seeking diverse types of fruit from various countries. There is now an increased demand for tropical fruits, including avocados, mangos, kiwi, papaya, bananas, and pineapple, to name a few.
Over 50 varieties of tropical fruit are available in the US today, with 50% of the imports coming from Mexico. Bananas, Pineapples, mangoes, and avocados are at the top of the import list when it comes to tropical fruits.Though other tropical fruits are imported in smaller quantities, the markets are growing quickly. The lesser imported tropical fruits include lychee, passion fruit, guava, rambutan, and jackfruit, to name a few.
To put into perspective how much tropical fruit is being consumed in the US, we can look at avocados as an example. If we go back a few decades, toward the mid-1980s, the annual consumption of fruit was about 436 million pounds. Fast forward to today, the consumption has rapidly increased to a whopping 2.6 billion pounds annually! That is almost 6 times the amount in just 35 years.
Each tropical fruit has a distinct appearance, taste, and origin. While avocados, kiwi etc., have become popular because of a millennial-fueled boom on social media in recent times, other tropical fruits like bananas have been a staple in many homes for decades, if not centuries. When we look at more obscure tropical fruits like jackfruit, they have become popular through the increased interest in international cuisines and cultures.
There are endless uses and ways of consumption when it comes to tropical fruit. Some are imported fresh, while others are dried or canned. These fruits are also consumed with savory foods or snacks or on their own. All of this shows that the consumption of tropical fruits is on a steady but rapid rise.
Some of the ways tropical fruits are consumed in the United States are as follows:
Bananas are the most common fruit eaten in the United States and are available throughout the year. Banana bread, banana cream pie, and banana ice cream shakes are favorite treats in USA.
Coconuts are used in making cookies, pies, cakes, and candies. Pina Colada drink is made from Coconut milk and Pineapple juice.
Pineapple is consumed raw or as juice. It is also used as favoring in candies, ice cream, and beverages.
Avocados are used in salads. A very popular use of Avocados is in making Guacamole, a dip for various chips.
Dates are used to make cakes or consumed raw.
Dried Papaya and Mango are popular snack fare. They are also common ingredients in fruit salads and tropical drinks, as flavorings in ice cream, pudding, candies etc.
About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is a prolific blogger, writing on many different subjects, including food and nutrition, fitness, history, technology to name a few. Also, Amita Vadlamudi's favorite pictures can be found on https://www.pinterest.com/amitavadlamudi/ and
Dates are used to make cakes or consumed raw.
Dried Papaya and Mango are popular snack fare. They are also common ingredients in fruit salads and tropical drinks, as flavorings in ice cream, pudding, candies etc.
