Moving Toward the Food Guide Pyramid: Implications for U.S. Agriculture

摘要

Recent studies show that average diets differ considerably from Food Guide211u001ePyramid recommendations. The gap between current consumption and recommendations 211u001eis particularly large for caloric sweeteners, fats and oils, fruits, and certain 211u001evegetables--notably dark-green leafy and deep-yellow vegetables, and dry beans, 211u001epeas, and lentils. The change in food consumption needed to meet Food Guide 211u001ePyramid serving recommendations will result in adjustments in U.S. agricultural 211u001eproduction, trade, nonfood uses, and prices. The net adjustment in crop acreage 211u001eis projected to be relatively small, about 2 percent of total cropland in 1991-211u001e95. However, this small net adjustment masks larger anticipated changes for some 211u001esectors, particularly sweeteners, fats and oils, and citrus fruits.