What you need to know

Fruit sales in the US have surpassed the $48 billion mark, growing consistently for the past decade, aside from a slight slowdown in 2014-15 due to an increase in fresh fruit prices. Fruit’s overall healthy reputation and the consumer desire for fresher foods should propel fruit sales even higher through 2021. Jarred/canned options have underperformed during the period under review, but frozen fruit has benefitted strongly from assuring consumers that the freezing process preserves fruit’s taste, texture, and nutrients.

Definition

This Report covers the US market for fruit, which is defined as follows:

  • Fresh fruit – includes whole fruit (including random weight and packaged uniform weight) and fresh-cut packaged fruit

  • Canned/jarred fruit – shelf-stable jarred/canned fruit

  • Frozen fruit – bagged/boxed in the freezer section

  • Dried fruit – such as apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins

Unless otherwise noted, the following foods are excluded from the scope of this Report:

  • Fruit juices, drinks, or smoothies

  • Fruit jams, purees, sauces, and spreads

  • Fruit snacks (such as fruit rolls, bars, pureed pouches)

  • Frozen fruit novelties (even those made with 100% fruit)

  • Refrigerated prepared side dishes that include fruit

  • Vegetables (which are covered in a similarly presented companion report: Vegetables – US, June 2015).

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