Pineapple consumption in the United States: fresh fruit surpasses processed fruit in the last three decades

(Agraria.pe) Over the past 30 years, pineapple has established itself as one of the most popular fresh fruits among U.S. consumers, driving a significant shift from processed products like canned pineapple or pineapple juice to fresh fruit. Between 1995 and 2024, the availability of pineapple in the country increased from 4.94 to 6.62 kilograms per person. In 1995–1997, only about 17% of the available pineapple was fresh, equivalent to 0.91 kilograms per person per year. By 2024, this figure had surged to 3.86 kilograms per capita, representing two-thirds of the total 5.85 kilograms of pineapple available per person in fresh weight. This increase reflects both the growing consumer preference for fresh fruits and the decline in demand for processed pineapple products. Although there are crops in states such as California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, almost all the pineapple consumed in the United States is imported. Costa Rica remains the main supplier, providing nearly 90% of the ...