Fresh Trends 2023: Cabbage still going strong

Editor's Note: The following report is from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023, which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored 40 major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.

Cabbage is a steady performer in the produce department, and The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 consumer survey found that 31% of shoppers said they purchased cabbage in the past year, down slightly from 34% in Fresh Trends 2022.

The USDA reported that per capita availability of cabbage has remained relatively steady in the last decade, recording 6.10 pounds in 2011 and 6.02 pounds in 2019.

Fob pricing tracked by the USDA indicated that the 2022 fob average for cabbage was $16.51 per carton, up 12% from $14.71 per carton in 2021.

The average advertised retail price for cabbage also increased in 2022 compared with the previous year. The USDA said the 2022 retail advertised price was 91 cents per unit, up 11% from 82 cents per unit in 2021.

The number of stores promoting cabbage totaled 271,592 in 2022, up 9% from 249,012 in 2021.

Income only had a small influence on cabbage consumption, Fresh Trends 2023 shows. Thirty-one percent of consumers earning more than $100,000 a year said they purchased cabbage, a little higher than 27% for those earning under $25,000 annually.

The youngest consumers surveyed purchased less cabbage than other age groups. Just 23% of consumers aged 18-29 years old said they purchased cabbage, compared with 31% for those aged 30-39, 29% for those 40-49 years old, 35% for those aged 50-59 and 35% for those 60 years or older.