NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD News) — U.S. vegetable supplies still depend heavily on imports for some products, but that reliance is far from uniform. USDA’s latest outlook says imports accounted for about one-third of total U.S. vegetable availability in 2025, with much sharper dependence in a few key categories.
For fresh vegetables, Mexico supplied about 77 percent of imports and Canada about 13 percent. Tomatoes and cucumbers remained heavily import-dependent, while lettuce continued to rely mostly on domestic production.
Fresh vegetable availability, excluding potatoes, reached 148 pounds per person in 2025. That was nearly 3 pounds above the previous year, supported by higher production and lower exports.
Processing vegetable availability also moved higher. USDA estimated 102.7 pounds per person in 2025, up 7 percent from 2024, with tomatoes, sweet corn, and snap beans all showing year-over-year gains.
Potato availability slipped 2 percent to 112 pounds per person, while dry pulse availability rose 13.4 percent to 12.6 pounds per person. USDA said import dependence remains product-specific rather than broad across the sector.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Reliance on vegetable imports remains uneven, with domestic production still anchoring several major categories.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Policy awareness is becoming part of everyday risk management.
February 25, 2026 04:50 PM
·
Glyphosate and phosphorus are deemed critical to U.S. national defense, ensuring farmers’ access while signaling a shift toward regenerative agriculture. RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight on the Trump Administration’s move and what it could mean for U.S. farmers moving forward.
February 24, 2026 01:30 PM
·
Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.
February 24, 2026 11:57 AM
·
Agriculture avoided major disruptions, but trade uncertainty remains elevated.
February 23, 2026 10:09 AM
·
Galynn Beer of Tidal Grow Agri-Science joined us to discuss challenges in fertility management, the benefits of Align-N, and what growers can expect at Commodity Classic next week.
February 20, 2026 01:26 PM
·
Tommy Roach with Nachurs Alpine Solutions discuss fertilizer decision-making, plant fertility strategies, and what farmers can learn at Commodity Classic.
February 20, 2026 12:05 PM
·
