USDA: U.S. per capita vegetable consumption falls to lowest point in 35 years

USDA released this Vegetables and Pulses Outlook: April 2025 by Wilma V. Davis, Catharine Weber, Helen Wakefield and Seth J. Wechsler, on April 24, 2025

In 2024, total U.S. per capita vegetable and pulse availability (a consumption proxy) fell to 376 pounds, marking the lowest level in over 35 years (since 1988).

Since peaking at 426 pounds in 1996, availability has gradually declined, with notable dips over the past two decades.

The 2024 availability total consists of fresh vegetables excluding melons (39 percent), processing vegetables (26 percent), potatoes (31 percent), pulses (3 percent), and mushrooms (1 percent) — a mix that has remained relatively consistent over time.

Per capita availability has held steady for fresh vegetables and potatoes, declined gradually for processing vegetables, continued a slow upward trend for pulses, and remained stable for mushrooms despite a slight dip this year.

USDA, ERS preliminary per capita availability of fresh market vegetables for 2024 is 148 pounds per person, down 5 pounds from the previous year. The 2024 preliminary fresh vegetable availability (excluding potatoes) is about 9 pounds less per person than the previous 3-year average. A 4-percent decline in fresh market vegetable production, coupled with a 7-percent increase in export volumes, offset higher import volumes in 2024 (up 2 percent).

To read the full report, click here.