I am trying to find out how many limes we consumed in the U.S. in 2002
(or in 2001, or the most recent data available)
as compared with in earlier years (the goal is to show a significant
growth trend). The objective is to see if limes (and not lemons, or
other citrus, just limes specifically)
have become more popular, i.e. has there has been a growth in American
consumption of limes (the citrus fruit) over the last decade or two?
(Domestic production figures won't tell the full story because we
consume many limes that we import). Therefore I need consumption
figures, or a combination of lime import figures and domestic
production figures for lime.

Hello writer99-ga,

You want to know about about an agricultural product in America...? 
Who else to ask, but the official keeper of ag-related data, the good
old US Department of Agriculture.

At the following link:

http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/agr03/acro03.htm

you will find the latest downloadable statistical report:

USDA-NASS Agricultural Statistics 2003

which includes a chapter on:

Fruits, tree nuts, and horticultural specialties.

As you can see, domestic production of limes has really shriveled up
this past decade from 44,000 tons to a mere 7,000 tons:

Table 5.2
Domestic production (1,000 tons)


1993 ................ 44
1994 ................  9
1995 ................ 10
1996 ................ 14
1997 ................ 14
1998 ................ 19
1999 ................ 22
2000 ................ 26
2001 ................ 11
2002 ................  7


The big ticket when it comes to limes is imports, which has long
drawfed the domestic production:


Table 5.34  Foreign Trade...Imports


Metric tons

1992 ............ 112,125
1993 ............ 113,936
1994 ............ 142,990
1995 .............130,072
1996 ............ 147,064
1997 ............ 164,577
1998 ............ 151,613
1999 ............ 179,394
2000 ............ 182,412
2001 ............ 179,101

and as you suspected, there has been a substantial increase from 112
thousand tons in 1992, to 179 thousand tons in 2001 (2002 data isn't
available yet)...even if you factor in the domestic production, the
overall trend is the same...more limes for everyone!

If you need data from earlier years, it is available in the earlier
USDA annual reports, also available at the same link.

I hope this is what you needed, but if anything here requires
elaboration, just let me know by posting a Request for Clarification,
and I'll be happy to assist you further.

pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by writer99-ga on 26 Jun 2003 12:44 PDT

This is very helpful. Thank you. Are there stats available also for
lime consumption, or just for domestic production and imports?

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 26 Jun 2003 12:50 PDT

Glad to hear these data are useful to you.

I looked for consumption stats as I was researching your question, but
did not see any, so posted an answer that met your "Plan B" -- a
combination of domestic production and import statistics.

Some of the larger crops have specific national associations (e.g. the
apple growers) that sometimes have consumption data, but there is no
such national association for limes, I'm afraid.

Hope this helps.

paf

Quick response, with data that fit the criteria I put forward and
answered my question accurately. The link provided was useful for
follow-up, and my request for clarification was responded to promptly,
honestly and helpfully. Thanks!

Thanks for the stars and the kind remarks -- always appreciated.

paf