Salvadoran Consumption of Ethnic Foods in the United States

The U.S. Salvadoran population is the largest group of Central and South American people living in the United States today. This study investigates the U.S. market for thirty Salvadoran foods and the demographic characteristics and attitudes of Salvadorans toward these foods. Original data were obtained from a survey conducted through personal interviews of Salvadoran residents of Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas. Salvadorans surveyed were predominantly low income, without a high school degree, and living in large families. The Salvadoran foods consumed by most respondents were tortilla flour, red beans, loroco (a vegetable), semita (a sweet bread), queso duro (a hard cheese) and horchata (a cold drink). Four groups of households were determined by using cluster analysis. The results indicate that a potential market exists in the United States for most of the Salvadoran products included in this study, and that Salvadorans would like to buy other foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.