NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — U.S. vegetable markets posted mixed results in 2025 as record yields for several crops helped offset lower acreage, while grower prices weakened across much of the fresh market sector. USDA’s latest Vegetables and Pulses Outlook highlights how weather, productivity gains, and shifting demand shaped outcomes heading into the 2025–26 marketing year.
Potatoes remain a key example of this dynamic. USDA forecasts 2025 U.S. potato production at 412.1 million hundredweight, down 2 percent from last year, as harvested acreage declined 3.5 percent. That reduction was partially offset by a record-high average yield of 461 cwt per acre. Despite the smaller crop, fresh potato grower prices during the first two months of the marketing year trailed year-ago levels, reflecting ample supplies and softer demand.
Fresh market vegetables broadly faced lower prices in 2025. Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery all posted lower year-to-date average grower prices through October compared with 2024, driven by more favorable growing conditions. Some price improvement emerged late in the season, but it was insufficient to offset earlier declines.
Processing vegetables showed more resilience. California processing tomatoes, which dominate the processing sector, are expected to post record yields, largely compensating for reduced contracted acreage and stabilizing overall output.
Beyond traditional vegetables, mushroom production continued to grow modestly, with total sales volume rising 2 percent in 2024/25 and total value reaching $1.1 billion. Pulse crops experienced sharp production increases due to higher yields, although grower prices trended lower as supplies expanded.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Record yields are cushioning production declines, but softer prices underscore the importance of cost control and market timing for vegetable growers.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Ag industry leaders and lawmakers are urging continued support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), citing strong export growth, supply chain integration, and economic benefits for U.S. farmers ahead of the pact’s July review.
February 11, 2026 12:17 PM
·
Strong corn exports offer support, while soybeans and wheat remain weighed down by ample global supplies, according to the USDA’s latest WASDE report for February.
February 10, 2026 04:25 PM
·
Higher livestock prices reflect resilient demand, even as disease and herd shifts reshape 2026 supply expectations.
February 10, 2026 04:11 PM
·
Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance discusses the importance of grain bin safety and joint efforts with Nationwide to provide farmers and first responders with access to critical, life-saving rescue tubes.
February 10, 2026 03:57 PM
·
Bankruptcy filings reflect prolonged margin pressure, rising debt, and limited financial flexibility across farm country. Bigger operating loans are helping farms manage costs, but they also signal growing reliance on borrowed capital.
February 10, 2026 01:35 PM
·
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey was in Mission, Texas, where state and federal officials addressed growers and producers at a round table event hosted at a citrus grower’s facility. He shows us how welcome news was all around.
February 10, 2026 12:05 PM
·
A transition from traditional, technology-specific subsidies toward a performance-based, technology-neutral framework
February 10, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Lower freight costs helped sustain export demand amid a challenging pricing environment.
February 10, 2026 06:00 AM
·
Producers across the country spent the week balancing spring planning with tight margins and uneven moisture outlooks. Input purchasing stayed cautious, while marketing and cash-flow decisions remained front and center for many operations.
February 09, 2026 03:17 PM
·
