Lower Vegetable Usage Rates in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Apr 22/07 - SNS -- Per capita consumption rates for a wide range of fresh and processed vegetables declined in the United States last year, according to preliminary consumption data developed by the USDA's Gary Lucier and Alberto Jerardo.

Writing in the USDA's Economic Research Service, April 2007 edition of the Vegetables and Melons Outlook, they said, "In 2006, per capita disappearance (net domestic use) of all vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pulse crops, and mushrooms fell 3% to 428 pounds.

"Most of this reduction was due to lower use of head lettuce and processed tomatoes. Use of freshmarket vegetables (including melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms) totaled about 222 pounds, down 1% from a year earlier.

"Fresh use rose for crops such as asparagus, snap beans, cabbage, cauliflower, bell peppers, garlic, and romaine and leaf lettuce but fell for crops like head lettuce, spinach, celery, onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes."

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here