Where (in the World!) Your Fruits and Vegetables Come from: An Interactive Finder
Countries worldwide are steadily supplying more and more produce to Americans eager to “eat fresh” year-round
Join Our Community of Science Lovers!
U.S. farmers grow a lot of produce, but imports are filling most of the rising demand, especially during winter months. So where do your bananas, eggplants, kiwis and okra come from? You may be surprised. The interactive graphic below lists the global region of origin, volume of imports, and increase over time for more than 150 fruits and vegetables. Now that’s a salad.—Mark Fischetti and Jen Christiansen
For more maps showing how imports vary by season, and graphics on how consumer tastes for some notable edibles have evolved, click on the image below.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.