Sixty-nine vegetables cost less than $1 per serving in 2023

USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) estimated average retail prices paid by U.S. consumers in 2023 for 93 fresh and processed vegetable products measured in servings. A serving, as defined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, is the edible portion that will generally fit in a 1-cup measuring cup. For lettuce and other raw leafy greens, it is the amount that will fit in 2 cups. Among all 93 products included in the sample priced by ERS, 19 cost less than 50 cents per serving, including white baking potatoes (30 cents), fresh cucumbers eaten with peel (30 cents), and fresh baby carrots (40 cents). Another 50 vegetable products cost between 50 and 99 cents per serving. These products included fresh Roma and plum tomatoes (51 cents) and fresh green beans (87 cents). In 2023, the most expensive vegetable products for U.S. consumers were fresh okra and frozen asparagus, at $2.60 per serving. Federal dietary guidance recommends that individuals with a 2,000-calorie per day reference diet consume 3 servings of vegetables each day. The average U.S. consumer has historically fallen short, however. ERS estimated an average of 1.5 servings of vegetables and legumes were consumed on a given day in 2017–18. This chart is drawn from the ERS Fruit and Vegetable Prices data product, updated December 9, 2025.