Australians buy more fruit, fewer vegetables
Key points
- Fruit consumption rose by 1.4% in 2024–25, driven by higher purchases of oranges, kiwifruit, and grapes.
- Total retail food and non-alcoholic beverage sales increased by 2.2% to an estimated 15.6 million tonnes.
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that vegetable consumption fell by 1.7% to the lowest level in a seven-year series.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that fruit consumption increased by 1.4% in 2024–25 while vegetable purchases dropped.
The modest rise in fruit sales partly reversed declines seen in recent years, equivalent to around 2 grammes more fruit per person per day.
“Fruit consumption increased by 1.4%, driven mainly by oranges, kiwifruit and grapes, while vegetable consumption fell by 1.7%,” said Australian Bureau of Statistics Head of Health and Disability Statistics Julie Watkinson.
Australians purchased around 181 grammes of vegetables per person per day during the period, down from 184 grammes the previous year.
The largest individual drops included avocados falling 12%, pumpkins down 8%, and peas and beans decreasing 7%.
Total retail volume for food and non-alcoholic beverages reached an estimated 15.6 million tonnes in 2024–25, representing a 2.2% annual increase.
More than three-quarters of the overall volume growth came from non-alcoholic beverages and milk products, led by a 5% rise in bottled water and an 18% jump in energy drinks.