Influencia latino en arizona

Hispanic American Influence on the U. S. Food Industry

Across the country, U. S. consumers are seeing a large selection of Hispanic foods in restaurants and grocery stores. What has caused the increased interest in Hispanic foods? One reason is the fast-growing Hispanic population in this country, and the influence Hispanic spending patterns have had on the food industry.1.

When discussing"Hispanic-Americans", we typically include Spanish-speaking people of Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and other Spanish-speaking countries. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are Mexicans (more than 60% of the Hispanic population), Puerto Ricans, and Cubans. By the year 2005, the Census Bureau projects that Hispanics will surpass non-Hispanic AfricanAmericans as the nation's second-largest race/ethnic group behind only non-Hispanic whites. 2.

Hispanic purchasing power has influenced the marketplace. Hispanic shoppers spend more on food purchases because their families are usually larger. Hispanic families are more likely than other families to prepare and serve food at home.1.; 3. 

Food plays an important role in the Hispanic culture. In someHispanic cultures, the people believe that foods, herbs, illnesses, and bodily states are characterized by degrees of "hot" and "cold." A good meal will be balanced. Those who eat foods whose temperatures are wrong for them can get sick. A good appetite is associated with good health. Children are not forced to eat foods that they resist because their preferences are respected. As a mother orgrandmother observes that a food causes an illness, she will withhold it from her children's diet. A list of harmful foods is passed along from generation to generation, with other food beliefs, from mother to daughter.4.

Hispanic shoppers look for fresh and authentic fruits, vegetables, and other foods in supermarkets. Younger Hispanic shoppers do not necessarily restrict their food selection to foodsfrom their country of origin. The market is not static.3. 

One market which has seen change is the dairy industry. Growing ethnic diversity, particularly an increase of Hispanics, may decrease per capita consumption of dairy products by U. S. consumers. The California dairy industry has attempted to change the attitude of Hispanics toward milk by launching a program aimed at Latino mothers andgrandmothers. In the "Family, Love and Milk " ad campaign, key elements included celebrating the traditions of milk recipes in Hispanic cooking.5.

To understand different Hispanic-American food consumers, we must first look at the diversity of Spanish cuisines.

Hispanic Cuisine

Hispanic cuisine varies from region to region, from town to town, and from family to family. Although there are foodsthat are enjoyed by many Hispanic families, regional variations in heat, spiciness, pungency, and sweetness make it difficult to define what "authentic" Hispanic cuisine is. For example, sofrito, the cooking sauce used to flavor beans, rice, fish, and stews, can vary in flavor depending on the region responsible. The Spanish sofrito is sweet and made with tomatoes, while the Puerto Rican sofrito ispungent and made with cilantro (Erynguim foetidum), and the Cuban version is mild and made with parsley.6.

Certain Hispanic groups prefer certain types of foods. Mexicans favor corn and amaranth. South Americans favor wheat, quinoa, and potatoes. Rice is preferred by Hispanics from the Caribbean and coastal regions of Latin America.7.

According to figures derived from the U.S. Department ofAgriculture's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, U.S. consumers of Mexican descent eat the greatest amount of dry beans (almost 34 pounds per capita) compared to non-Hispanic whites who consume only six pounds per capita.8.

Different Hispanic cultures prefer different beans. Cubans, Southern Mexicans, Central Americans, and Venezuelans use black beans in their cooking. Northern...