Imports of fruit to the USA will account for about half of total per capita fruit and nut use by 2023. Imports of vegetables will make up 25% of per capita vegetable use.
Those new projections from the USA’s Department of Agriculture compare with 2013 levels of a 42% import share for fruit and nut use and 19% import share for vegetable per capita use. Another measure of the growth of imports is the trade imbalance between imports and exports. On that count, the USDA reports the U.S. trade deficit in horticultural crops and products will grow from $12.8 billion in fiscal year 2013 (October 2012 to September 2013) to $23.1 billion in fiscal year 2023.