In 2024, Americans access to fresh vegetables saw a notable downturn. According to preliminary data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, per capita domestic availability of fresh vegetables—a key indicator of consumption trends—dropped to 148 pounds per person, reflecting a 3% decline from 2023. While these figures do not account for food loss and waste, they signal shifting consumption habits and potential challenges in the food supply chain.
Despite the overall decrease, a few staple vegetables maintained or modestly increased their presence in American diets. Onions and tomatoes, for example, both held strong: onions rose by 1% to 21 pounds per capita, while tomatoes saw a marginal uptick of 0.1% to 19 pounds. These increases are relatively small but notable against the broader backdrop of decline.
The most significant shifts occurred within the lettuce category. Iceberg and romaine/leaf lettuces both experienced substantial drops—6% and 9%, respectively—bringing total per capita availability of all lettuces down to 28.6 pounds. This represents a sharp drop compared to past decades, particularly for iceberg lettuce, which has seen a long-term downward trend: from 24 pounds in the 1990s to just 12.4 pounds in 2024, a record low. Still, romaine and leaf lettuces, despite the 2024 dip, have trended upward over the long term—rising from just 6 pounds per capita in the 1990s to 17 pounds in the 2020s.
Among the Brassica crops, availability patterns diverged. Broccoli and leafy greens such as kale, collards, mustard, and turnip greens saw a 4% decline. Conversely, cauliflower and cabbage increased in availability by 7% and 1%, respectively.
For vegetables with per capita availability between 5 and 10 pounds, declines dominated with carrots taking the biggest hit with a steep 14% drop to 7 pounds, and pumpkins followed with an 11% decrease to 5 pounds. Cucumbers and squash each fell by 2%, while sweet potatoes stood out with a 5% increase, reaching 5.6 pounds per person.
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Written by Holly Bianchi
