Page 422 - FRUTAS DEL TRÓPICO

422 Frutas del trópico

Imports of fresh vegetables from Mexico have for many years played an important role
in the U.S. vegetable supply during the off-season. However, more recently, imports of gre-

enhouse vegetables from Canada and Holland and the introduction of new varieties to the

market have contributed significantly to boost vegetable consumption in the United States.

This has been particularly true in the case of tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers.

Consumption of tomatoes has seen important increases with the introduction of many

new varieties to the market as well as through the success of hothouse tomatoes, which are

valued by consumers for their better taste, higher and consistent quality, improved food safe-

ty, and year-round availability. Therefore, diversification of the category, wider availability and

better overall quality, where imports are playing a key role, are driving the trend of increasing
tomato consumption in the United States.

The increase in consumption of peppers has been fueled by the introduction to the U.S.

market of bell peppers in different colors and in mini-varieties in recent years, as well as by

the popularity of a significant variety of hot peppers, mainly imported from Mexico. Imports of

hothouse-grown bell peppers from Canada and Holland have played a significant role in the

supply of these products in the U.S. market. So, once again, variety, quality and a year-round

supply, aided by imports, have been the major driving forces in increasing per capita consump-
tion of peppers in the U.S. market.

Likewise, consumption of cucumbers has been strongly influenced by the introduction of the

hothouse-grown seedless variety, which has a totally edible bitterless peel with no wax. As with

tomatoes and peppers, better and consistent flavor and overall quality, along with wider availability,

have contributed to the increasing demand for this product.

Imports’ share of consumption for asparagus, which increased the most during the period

under study, is the direct result of the increase in its consumption in the United States. Domes-

Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas