Melon consumption in the USA

Domestic production is up 7 percent

Per capita melon consumption has risen to an annual average of 27 pounds this decade—up 3 percent from the average of the 1990s. This demand has been satisfied by both domestic producers and melon importers.

While imports between the 1990s and the 2000s are up 53 percent (an increase of 621 million pounds), domestic production is up 7 percent (an increase of 445 million pounds). However, domestic producers have also met a 48 percent increase in export demand since the 1990s (up 148 million pounds). Thus, both domestic producers and importers have shared fairly equally in satisfying increasing melon demand this decade.

USDA - December 2008