The latest figures have not brought any relief to Japan’s fresh produce business, with data showing Japanese household fruit consumption hit its lowest July level for the last 11 years.
Average household consumption was just 6.77kg in July, according to the latest figures from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau. That’s a drop from 7.11kg in July last year.
Conversely, average unit price for fruit was at its highest July level in those 11 years at ¥486 per kg, bringing average total spending on fruit to a merely ‘poor’ rating compared to the same period in previous years. That high average price was partly boosted by the unusually high cost of local melons.
Continuing trends seen over the past few months, the bright lights were again kiwifruit and oranges.
Average kiwifruit spending was the highest since records began seven years ago, hitting ¥138 per household for the month, with the second-highest average July household consumption at 176g.
Average unit price for both grapefruit and oranges were the lowest July figure in 11 years, but while grapefruit consumption was also low, orange consumption was at a record high for the month.
Household orange consumption was at 220g and ¥70, both 11-year highs for July and showing a slower decline from the annual May peak than usual.
The banana market for the month was average in all respects.
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