USDA Report: Melon Consumption Increased In 2015

Posted by Rosemary Gordon|April 18, 2016

In 2015, estimated domestic consumption of melons topped out at 7.63 billion pounds, which is an increase of 5% from 2014. This consumption estimate translated to 23.7 pounds per person, a slight increase from the 22.8 pounds in 2014, which is the fifth-lowest estimate since the 1980s, according to the USDA Economic Research Services’ Fruit and Nuts Outlook Report.

The per capita consumption for melons has been on a general decline since a 1999. The increase in per capita use in 2015 brings the estimate to nearly even with the previous 5-year average.

Higher average yields and harvested acres for watermelons mostly contributed to the 3% uptick in total U.S. melon production in 2015 compared with the year before, the report states. This increase in production coupled with record-high imports across all melons, pushed overall domestic supplies higher last year.

Imports continue to be important as they continue to garner market share for U.S. melons. The numbers increase to a new high in 2015 – about 3.0 billion pounds – 33% average share of the last five years and much higher than the 27% average share during the years 2000 to 2009.

To read the full report, go to http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/2054861/fts-361-revised.pdf.