Fun Facts

Food purchases account for 12.5% of the average American’s household expenditures, behind housing and transportation.

The average American consumes 7.5 pounds of onions per year, as of 2014, according to USDA.

Americans’ consumption of pizza and French fries is partly what makes potatoes and tomatoes the two most popular vegetables in America.

During almond-harvesting season (mid-August through October), mechanical tree “shakers” harvest almonds by vigorously shaking trees and causing almonds to fall to the ground, where they are left to dry for 8-10 days.

Americans love ice cream. In fact, 9% of all of the cow’s milk in America is used to make ice cream.

Onions are the third most popular vegetable in the U.S.

Americans spend nearly a third of their food purchasing eating out at restaurants and foodservice establishments. In 2014, Americans spent approximately 5.5% of their disposable personal income on food eaten at home and 4.3% of their disposable personal income on food away from home.

Most of the blueberries sold in U.S. grocery stores, and the most common type of blueberry cultivated around the world, are Northern highbush blueberries. Highbush blueberries are said to be more resistant to diseases compared to other kinds of blueberries.

Since 1970, the number of chickens available for each person in the U.S. to eat has more than doubled.

Apricots originated in China more than 4,000 years ago.

According to some, before it became popularly known as “The Big Apple,” New York City was called “The Big Onion.”

Apples and bananas are the most popular fresh (whole) fruits in America. 

Almond trees are “dormant” and do not produce almonds during the cold-weather months of November through February.

A single serving of onion contains 45 calories.

In the past decade, chicken has overtaken beef as the most-consumed meat in America.

Potatoes and tomatoes are the most commonly consumed vegetables in the United States.

More than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States come from California’s Central Valley.

Grapefruit extract is often used to make nontoxic home cleaners.

Once planted, a cherry orchard can take up to seven years to begin producing a major crop.

Before the 17th century, carrots were usually yellow, white, or purple in color. It was not until the 17th century that Dutch growers began cultivating orange carrots.

Olive trees can live anywhere between 300 and 600 years on average, and some can live for more than 1,000 years. 

Lavender oil is often used to create natural insect repellants for both animals and people. 

During World War I, soldiers used honey as a means of accelerating wound healing and preventing infection.

During World War I, soldiers used honey as a means of accelerating wound healing and preventing infection.

Although green cucumbers are most common, cucumbers can actually come in many different colors, including white, yellow, and even orange.

The largest, widely available citrus fruit is the grapefruit.

Some say that ancient Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti used aloe in their skincare regimens.

Nearly all of the artichokes in the U.S. are grown in Castroville, a town in California’s Monterey County, which calls itself the “Artichoke Capital of the World.”

Bobbing for apples started as an ancient Celtic marriage game. The first person to bite into the apple was predicted to be the next to get married.

Mangoes were first grown in India more than 5000 years ago.Today, India is the largest producer of mangoes; however, the country only accounts for 1% of international mango trade because its citizens consume most of the mango grown in the country.