Per capita fruit and vegetable consumption

In 2025, per capita fruit and vegetable consumption is projected to reach 628.0 pounds, supported in part by expectations of economic growth and improved consumer spending. The essential nutrition provided by fruits and vegetables has continued to underpin demand even as consumers become more price-sensitive due to recent inflation. However, elevated prices for these goods, stemming from supply constraints tied to drought conditions and general inflation, have resulted in slightly lower consumption levels than those observed prior to the pandemic.

Between 2020 and 2025, per capita fruit and vegetable consumption saw varied fluctuations, with the compound annual growth rate for the period at just 0.1%. The years immediately following 2020 experienced considerable disruption. In 2021, consumption registered a marginal increase of 0.2%, before declining again by 0.9% in 2022 as heightened inflation and persistent droughts curtailed output and lifted prices. While fruits and vegetables retained their position as grocery staples, most consumers responded to higher prices by lowering purchase quantities, contributing to a drop in per capita consumption. Volatility continued into 2023, with a 1.4% rebound, and into 2024, with a 1.0% decrease, as market conditions remained unstable. Macro trends affecting this pattern include ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures across the broader food sector, and challenging agricultural weather conditions, all of which contributed to retail price increases and suppressed demand growth. At the same time, consumer interest in health and nutrition helped to mitigate declines, although it was insufficient to counteract the deterrent effect of rising prices.

Over the five-year period through 2025, the macroeconomic environment for fruit and vegetable consumption has been shaped by external supply shocks, energy price instability, and shifts in consumer purchasing power. While underlying demand growth supported by rising health consciousness remains, it has been consistently tempered by affordability concerns and sporadic supply limitations.