An ethnic market is a group of consumers that share a common cultural background. Many times an ethnic market has a distinctive geographic area.

The U.S. population is older, wealthier, more educated and more ethnically diverse than ever before. The Economic Research Service has identified three general demographic trends expected to shape future U.S. food markets: more diversity, more mature consumers and U.S. population growth.

According to USDA projections, the U.S. population is expected to add between 50 and 80 million people by 2020. There will be greater proportions of Latinos, Blacks and Asians. During the next 20 years, the U.S. Latino population is expected to grow by 1.2 million annually. Population increases for non-Latino Whites are estimated at 500,000 annually. Yearly population growth for Blacks and Asians is estimated at 400,000 each.  March 2010 . . . Ethnic Foods Market

AgMRC-Developed Materials

• Authentic Mexican Food: The Next Organic Trend? Michael Boland, Kansas State University.
• The U.S. Corn Masa Industry: Structure and Implications for the Great Plains Region, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Kansas State University, 2003 - Report prepared by Sparks Companies. This report looks specifically at the growth and impact that Mexican-style foods have had in the consumption and processing of masa corn products.

Other Information

• Agricultural and Demographic Changes in the Mid-Atlantic Region: Implications for Ethnic and Specialty Produce, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, 2002 - This fact sheet provides information on trends in mid-Atlantic agriculture and populations.
• America Eats: What, When and Where in 2006, Institute of Food Technologists, 2006 - The most popular ethnic food is Italian.
• Americans Have Growing Appetites for Imported Foods, Amber Waves, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2005 - An increase in ethnic diversity is a driving factor for the growth in U.S. agricultural imports.
• Baby Boomers, Health, Ethnic Trends Help Spur Frozen Seafood Innovation, Global Seafood magazine, Quick Frozen Foods International, 2005.
• Consumer-Driven Agriculture, Amber Waves, ERS, USDA, 2003 - Changing U.S. demographics influence eating habits.
• Ethnic Produce Marketing in the Mid-Atlantic States: Consumer Shopping Patterns and Willingness-to-Pay Analysis, Choices magazine, 2006.
• Exotic Tastes, Familiar Brands, Food, Inc., MSNBC - Ethnic cuisines embrace the chain restaurant concept.
• From Supply Push to Demand Pull: Agribusiness Strategies for Today’s Consumers, Amber Waves, ERS, USDA, 2003 - Changing U.S. demographics, including greater ethnic diversity, are driving changes in consumer demand for food products.
• Hispanic Consumer Profile New York Tri-State Area, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2007.
• The Hispanic Market in the U.S. - Opportunities and Challenges for the Food Industry, Cornell University, 2006.
• Hispanics Find a Home in Rural America, Amber Waves, ERS, USDA, 2003 - High-growth Hispanic counties are mostly in the South and Midwest.
• Kosher Today - The community of kosher food and beverage professionals.
• The Latest Data on Hispanic America, Hispanic Trends.com.
• Marketing to Ethnic Segments: Kosher Products, Value-Added Marketing, Penn State University, 2006.
• Minority Links, U.S. Census Bureau - Provides quick links to the latest data on racial and ethnic populations in the United States.
• The Multicultural Economy 2009, (also called Buying Power 2009) Selig Center for Economic Growth, the University of Georgia.
• New FMI Report Examines Purchasing Preferences and Behaviors of U.S. Hispanic Grocery Shoppers, Food Marketing Institute (FMI), 2005 - This release highlights findings on the fastest-growing consumer segment in the United States.
• Population and Household Economic Topics, U.S. Census Bureau - The source for population, housing, economic and geographic data.
• Rural Hispanics at a Glance, ERS, USDA, 2005 - This six-page brochure highlights data from the 2000 Census and other Federal data that indicate growth and geographic dispersion.
• Rural Hispanics: Employment and Residential Trends, Amber Waves, ERS, USDA, 2004 -  Hispanics are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the United States.
• Rural Labor and Education, ERS, USDA.
• Understanding the Latino Culture, Ohio State University.

Links checked March 2009.