New 2023 per capita availability numbers for fresh vegetables show year-over-year growth for cucumbers, romaine lettuce, onions, spinach and sweet corn and tomatoes.
USDA numbers noted declines in U.S. per capita availability for artichokes, asparagus, green beans, broccoli, potatoes, celery, garlic, head lettuce, bell peppers, pumpkin, radishes and squash.
Per capita availability numbers account for both domestic production and imports and are considered a measure of consumption. For 2023, the USDA reported that 35.2% of the U.S. fresh vegetable supply was provided by imports, down from 35.4% accounted for by imports in 2022 but up from the 32% import share in 2018.
In total, U.S. per capita availability of fresh vegetables in 2023 (excluding mushrooms, potatoes and sweet potatoes) was 150.38 pounds, down 2% from 2022. Compared with five years ago, 2023 per capita availability of fresh vegetables (same exclusions) was up 2%, according to USDA.
The following are 2023 availability numbers for fresh vegetables in pounds per person, with comparisons with 2022 and 2018:
- Artichokes — 1.16 pounds, down 24% from 2022 and down 11% from 2018.
- Asparagus — 1.51 pounds, down 9% from 2022 and down 15% from 2018.
- Green beans — 1.37 pounds, down 5% from 2022 and down 17% from 2018.
- Broccoli — 6.13 pounds, down 8% from 2022 and down 3% from 2018.
- Cabbage — 5.88 pounds, down 3% from 2022 but up 6% from 2018.
- Carrots — 8.51 pounds, down 2% from 2022 but up 18% from 2018.
- Cauliflower — 2.02 pounds, down 19% from 2022 and down 19% from 2018.
- Celery — 4.57 pounds, down 5% from 2022 and down 5% from 2018.
- Cucumber — 8.49 pounds, up 4% from 2022 and up 10% from 2018.
- Eggplant — 0.99 pounds, unchanged from 2022 and up 23% from 2018.
- Garlic — 2.08 pounds, down 8% from 2022 but up 2% from 2018.
- Greens — 3.03 pounds, down 7% from 2022 but up 16% from 2018.
- Head lettuce — 13.41 pounds, down 2% from 2022 and down 2% from 2018.
- Romaine and leaf lettuce — 18.06 pounds, up 6% from 2022 and up 30% from 2018.
- Mushrooms — no data for 2023; 2022 per capita was 2.42 pounds, down 13% from 2018.
- Onions — 21.37 pounds, up 1% from 2022 but down 5% from 2018.
- Bell peppers — 10.91 pounds, down 3% from 2022 and down 2% from 2018.
- Potatoes — 29.68 pounds, up 5% from 2022 but down 10% from 2018.
- Pumpkins — 5.87 pounds, down 8% from 2022 but up 9% from 2018.
- Radishes — 1 pound, down 25% from 2022 but up 84% from 2018.
- Spinach — 2.52 pounds, up 3% from 2022 and up 19% from 2018.
- Squash — 5.26 pounds, down 2% from 2022 and down 7% from 2018.
- Sweet corn — 4.86 pounds, up 3% from 2022 but down 26% from 2018.
- Sweetpotatoes (all uses) — 5.38 pounds, down 13% from 2022 and down 3% from 2018.
- Tomatoes — 19.23 pounds, up 1% from 2022 but down 4% from 2018.
