U.S. fruit and vegetable imports both achieved new records in 2021, newly released USDA data shows.

Total fruit imports rose by 16 percent year-on-year to $23 billion, up from the previous record of $19.9 billion in 2020. 

Ten years ago, in 2011, imports were half what they were last year, at just $11.7 billion.

In vegetables, imports rose by 8 percent to to $17.3 billion, up from the previous record of $16.1 billion set in 2020.

In 2021 vegetable imports were registered at $9.9 billion.

The fruits that saw some of the biggest increases in import value were avocados, which rose by 23 percent to $2.8 billion, and blueberries, which grew by 24 percent to $1.2 billion, and limes which rose by 37 percent to $595 million.

In addition, fruit juices, along with the processed, frozen and dried fruit categories all saw double-digit growth.

In vegetables, asparagus, onions, chili peppers and mushrooms all performed strongly. 

Similarly to fruit, the frozen, prepared and dried vegetable categories all saw double-digit growth.

Meanwhile, imports of tree nuts also hit a record, rising by 14 percent year on year to $3 billion.

In total, imports of horticultural products in 2021 rose by 14 percent to a record $88.9 billion.