Yesterday, the United States took a day to celebrate our history and culture. This week, USTR.gov takes a look at how some of our favorite home-grown American foods are shared with the world through exports.
Families all across the nation came together on the Fourth of July to celebrate not only our independence but our culture as well; through the clothes we wore, the songs we sang, and specifically the food we ate. As a result of agricultural exports, your Independence Day picnic table staples can be found in kitchens across the world every day.
Here’s a sampling of Fourth favorites and how consumers throughout the world enjoy American-grown food.
Hamburgers:
A summer picnic wouldn’t be complete without a hot-off-the grill hamburger, but Americans aren’t the only ones who enjoy U.S.-raised beef. In 2010, cattle farmers exported over one million metric tons of beef and veal products to world markets. These exports totaled $3.5 billion, and made the U.S. the third largest world exporter of beef and veal products in 2010.
Barbecue:
Pulled pork sandwiches are the centerpiece of American barbecues. As the world’s third largest producer of pork and as the world’s largest exporter of pork, other nations enjoy the products of American livestock ranchers, too. In 2010, 10 million metric tons of pork were produced in the U.S. and 1.4 million metric tons were exported to the world, generating $4.1 billion for the U.S. economy.
Corn on the Cob:
Vegetables like farm-fresh corn are a family favorite all around the nation. As the U.S. is the number one producer and exporter of corn in the world, foreign consumers use American-grown corn for family meals, animal feeds, alternative fuel sources, and various other uses. With 316 million metric tons produced in 2010, American corn growers out-produced other nations. American farmers also maintained the U.S.’s 55 percent world market share in 2010, with 50 million metric tons exported to markets around the world, totaling $9.8 billion.
Apples:
Whether sliced in a warm pie or freshly chopped in a cool salad, apples are a mainstay in American meals. And as the world’s third largest producer and exporter of apples, people all over the world also get to enjoy one of America’s favorite fruits. In fact, the American apple growers produced over 4 million metric tons of apples and exported 0.8 million metric tons in 2010. Those exports generated around $826 million for the U.S. economy, giving the U.S. 16 percent of the global market share.
Lemonade:
A cold glass of lemonade made from American-grown lemons is the perfect thirst quencher on a hot summer day. In 2010, American lemon and lime growers maintained the U.S.’s position in the top five world exporters of lemons and limes. American farmers produced 853,000 metric tons of lemons and limes and exported over 94,000 metric tons of lemons and limes to markets around the world.
So, the next time you’re grilling your favorite meat, baking mom’s apple pie, or chilling a pitcher of fresh lemonade someone in South Korea, Chile, or India may be making their favorite dish with quality, American-grown goods, too. And that is precisely how trade creates ties between nations and shares cultures with consumers the world over.
