Top 15 Most Popular Fruits in The World– Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, there are 15 are most popular in the world so far. Basically, everyone in the world probably knows some of this fruit. Therefore, we are all familiar with this type of fruit because we usually see and eat it.
So far, fruits are known as natural products that are rich in healthy nutrients. Many humans on earth depend on fruits for their health and life because it gives additional vitamins or energy to human’s body and keeps the body healthy amid our strenuous activity. Statistically, many countries are competing to produce fruits. In addition to health and nutritious functions, fruit can also be an economic commodity for every country. It is very profitable to some countries. Hundreds to thousands of tons of fruit are traded (export-import) between countries with a value of million dollars. Of course, the agribusiness of fruits is still a prospective opportunity as an economic source for farmers, traders, and governments. Financially, it has high economic sustainability in the future because all people around the world still need fruits for their lives.
In 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation (UN) in its report through the FAO Statistical Database 2019,2020, and 2021, stated that there were various types of fruit that were produced the most in the world. This production figure shows the consumption ratio. The higher the fruit production, the higher the consumption of the fruit. So, it can indicate that these fruits are indispensable for human life. By the way, here is a ranking of 15 Most Popular Fruit in The World. These fruits are hugely popular because it is planted and harvested in a large area around the world.
Table Ranking 15 Most Popular Fruits in The World
| Rank | Kind of Fruits | Production in 2019 | Production in 2020 | Production in 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | (Tons) | (Tons) | ||
| 1 | Tomato | 180,766,329 | 184,786,054 | 189,133,955 |
| 2 | Banana | 116,781,658 | 121,397,847 | 124,978,578 |
| 3 | Watermelon | 100,414,933 | 101,916,817 | 101,634,719 |
| 4 | Apple | 87,236,221 | 90,490,295 | 93,144,358 |
| 5 | Orange | 78,699,604 | 76,566,646 | 75,567,951 |
| 6 | Grapes | 77,137,016 | 76,997,321 | 73,524,196 |
| 7 | Mango and Guava | 55,853,238 | 56,685,546 | 57,011,282 |
| 8 | Pineapple | 28,179,348 | 27,244,583 | 28,647,865 |
| 9 | Peach | 25,737,841 | 24,267,464 | 24,994,353 |
| 10 | Pear | 23,919,075 | 24,986,261 | 25,658,713 |
| 11 | Pumpkin | 22,900,826 | 22,949,437 | 23,783,936 |
| 12 | Papaya | 13,735,086 | 14,186,675 | 14,097,721 |
| 13 | Plum | 12,601,312 | 12,105,278 | 12,014,481 |
| 14 | Dates | 9,075,446 | 9,517,451 | 9,656,377 |
| 15 | Strawberry | 8,885,028 | 8,893,590 | 9,175,384 |
| Source : FAO Statistical Database (FAO Stat), FAO, 2020, 2021, and 2022 | ||||
Brief Description of 15 Most Popular Fruit in The World
1.Tomato
Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) is a plant from the Solanaceae family which is native to Central and South America. Taxonomically, tomato plants belong to the Order: Solanales; Family: Solanaceae; Genus: Solanum; Species: S. lycopersicum. If you look at the taxonomy, tomato plants still have a close relationship with chili (Capsicum annuum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), potato (Solanum tuberosum), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) because they are still in the same plant family.
In 2021, the cumulative total production of tomatoes reached 189 million tons, making tomatoes the most popular fruit in the world. According to the ranking of countries, there are 5 largest tomato-producing countries namely China, India, Turkey, the United States and Egypt. With its large production, tomatoes are widely processed for human consumption products such as sauces. In addition, tomatoes are also be consumed directly in fresh form because it has many vitamins that can nourish the body.
2. Banana
Banana is a monocot plant including the musa genus. This plant comes from Southeast Asia (including Indonesia). From time to time, bananas then spread to Africa (Madagascar), South America, and Central. Taxonomically, bananas belong to the Division: Spermatophyta; Subdivision: Angiosperms; Class: Monocotyledonae; Family: Musaceae; Genus: Musa; Species: Musa spp.
Bananas are a very indispensable fruit that is a great source of vitamins and minerals. Until now, bananas are one of the most popular fruit in the world. Functionally, bananas can be consumed fresh, processed into various products such as banana sale, banana flour, and fried bananas. Banana peels can also be used to make vinegar through the fermentation process of alcohol and vinegar. The various benefits of bananas make this plant became favorite one. In 2021, based on data from FAO, Banana production in Worldwide reached 124 million tons with the largest banana-producing countries being India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
3.Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit plant originating from dry tropical and subtropical Africa, which then grows rapidly to various countries such as: South Africa, China, Japan, and another part of worldwide. Taxonomically, watermelon plants belong to the Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Cucurbitales; Family: Cucurbitaceae; Genus: Citrullus; Species: C. lanatus.
Watermelon plants are still related to pumpkins (Cucurbitaceae), so they still have a close relationship with melons (Cucumis melo) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). In 2019, based on data from FAO, watermelon production in worldwide reached 101 million tons with the largest watermelon producing countries namely China, Turkey, India, Brazil, and Algeria. Statistically, watermelon is one of the most popular fruits because of its sweetness and fresh taste.
4.Apple
Apple is one of the most popular fruits in the world and became one of the most consumed fruits by humans. Historically, this plant came from the Central Asian region, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Xinjiang, China. To date, apples have grown in many areas of the world. Climatologically, apple plants are suitable for cultivation in colder temperatures. Furthermore, based on its taxonomy, apple plants belong to the kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnolipsida; Order: Rosales; Family: Rosaceae; Subfamily: Maloideae or Spiraeoideae; Nation: Maleae; Genus: Malus; Species: Malus sylvestris.
Functionally, many people consumed apples directly or in fresh condition. Furthermore, Some people also processed it into some derivative products such as apple chips, or apple jam. Statistically, in 2021, based on data from FAO, apple production in worldwide reached 93 million tons with the largest apple-producing countries namely China, the United States, Turkey, Poland, and India.
5. Orange
Oranges are one of the popular fruits that are rich in Vitamin C as we know. Historically, this plant is an annual fruit plant originating from Asia, namely China the panda country is the origin where citrus was first cultivated and developed. Until now, citrus plants have grown broadly all around the world. In addition taxonomically, citrus plants belong to in the Division: Spermatophyta; Subdivision: Angiosperms; Class: Dicotyledonae; Order: Rutales; Family: Rutaceae; Genus: Citrus; Species: Citrus sp.
Until now, oranges have been widely processed and cultivated in the world. Until now, orange is one of the most popular fruits with various benefits. In 2021, based on data from FAO, citrus production worldwide reached 75 million tons with the largest orange-producing countries namely Brazil, China, India, the United States, and Mexico.
6. Grapes
Grapes are shrubs plants. Historically, the vine originated in Armenia, but grape cultivation has been developed in the Middle East since 4000 BC. In-plant taxonomy, vines are included in the Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Spermatophyta; Subdivision: Angiosperms; Class: Dicotyledonae; Order: Rhamnales; Family: Vitaceae; Genus: Vitis; Species: Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca.
Functionally, grapes are widely used as wine drinks and a lot of wine is consumed directly in fresh. Based on data from FAO, the production of grapes worldwide reaches 73 million tons with the world’s largest wine-producing countries in 2021 namely China, Italy, United States, Spain, and France.
7.Mango and Guava
Mango and guava plants are favorite plants in some areas of the earth. Many people like the consumption of fruit from this plant. According to data from FAO, United Nations in 2021, manga and guava production in 2021 reached 57 million tons. India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Mexico are some countries with huge production of Mangoes and Guava in 2021.
8.Pineapple
Pineapple or Ananas comosus L. is a plant that probably comes from South America. It was discovered by Europeans in 1493 on the Caribbean Island. At the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese and Spanish introduced pineapple to the continents of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Until now, it is one of the most popular fruits in the world. According to plant taxonomy, pineapple belongs to Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Spermatophyta; Class: Angiosperms; Order: Farinosae; Family: Bromiliaceae; Genus: Ananas; Species: Ananas comosus L.
Statistically, pineapple production in worldwide reaches 28.6 million tons. In the year of 2021, the largest pineapple-producing countries in the world are Costa Rica, the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, and China.
9.Peach
Peach fruit or Prunus persica is a fruiting plant from the Rosaceae family. Taxonomically, this plant belongs to the Order: Rosales; Family: Rosaceae; Genus: Prunus; Species: Prunus persica. Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, in 2021, world’s peach production reached 24.9 million tons with the largest peach-producing countries namely China, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
10.Pear
The pear plant is a subtropical plant that probably comes from Western Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, in 2021, world pear production reached 25.6 million tons with the largest pear producing countries namely China, the United States, Argentina, Turkey, and Italy. Taxonomically, pear plants are included in the Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Rosales; Family: Rosaceae; Genus: Pyrus.
11.Pumpkin
The pumpkin plant is a type of creeping fruit plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. The characteristic is the same with watermelon. Taxonomically, this plant is still a relative with melon (Cucumis melo) and cucumber (Cucumis sativum). According to FAO data, the United Nations, in 2021, pumpkin production worldwide reached 23.7 million tons with the largest pumpkin producing countries namely China, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, and Mexico.
12.Papaya
Papaya is a fruit plant in the form of herbs from the Caricaceae family originating from Central America and the West Indies, which is located around Mexico and Costa Rica. According to data from FAO, United Nations, in 2021, papaya production in worldwide reached 14 million tons with the largest pumpkin producing countries namely India, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia. Taxonomically, papaya plants belong to in the Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Spermatophyta; Subdivision; Angiosperms: Class: Dicotyledonae; Order: Violales; Family: Caricaceae; Genus: Carica; Species: Carica papaya L.
13. Plum
Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, in 2021, plum production in worldwide reached 12 million tons with the largest plum producing countries namely China, Romania, Serbia, Chile, and Iran.
14. Date
Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, in 2021, date palm production in worldwide reached 9.6 million tons with the largest date palm producing countries namely Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, and Iraq.
15.Strawberry
Based on data from FAO, the United Nations, in 2021, world strawberry production reached 9.1 million tons with the largest date-producing countries namely China, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, and Egypt.
Reference 15 Most Popular Fruits in The World
FAO. 2022. Crops and livestock products. Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL on 5 August 2022.
