When we analyzed our State of the Vegetable Industry Survey last month, we noticed some interesting crop trends. The crops vegetable growers include in their mix can vary from year to year. But on the whole, the most popular crops tend to be stable. The percentage of operations growing them deviate very little.
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11. Leafy Greens (44%) - TRENDING DOWN
Leafy greens dropped out of the Top 10 for the first time this year, to No. 11. Just prior to the E. coli in romaine outbreaks, it ranked No. 5. It has yet to recover its popularity after the E. coli outbreaks of 2017 and 2018. The number of growers producing the crop fell from 51% in early 2017 to only 44% in 2020 — a seven-point drop.
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10. Pumpkins (47%) - TRENDING UP
Pumpkins made the Top 10 list for the first time this year. That’s a remarkable feat, considering what growers were saying during the first few chaotic weeks of the pandemic. Many wondered if they should dump more ornamental crops like pumpkins, since grocery stores were focusing heavily on essentials. But instead of pulling back on production, many growers decided to add pumpkins to their mix. It surpasses even sweet corn in the percentage of its growers who are adding the crop — an impressive 11%.
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9. Cabbage (47%) - HOLDING STEADY
Cabbage held its No. 9 position for the second year in a row.
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8. Onions (49%) - TRENDING DOWN
Onions moved down one notch from last year's ranking.
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7. Winter Squash (51%) - TRENDING DOWN
This cucurbit crop dropped one spot in the ranking from last year.
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6. Beans (52%) - TRENDING UP
Beans maintained its popularity from 2019. In both years, 52% of growers reported growing the crop. But just four years ago, only 44% reported doing so. That eight-point percentage climb is second only to pumpkin’s 9-point climb.
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5. Sweet Corn (53%) - TRENDING UP
Sweet corn jumped up to the fifth most popular vegetable crop for the first time. It was No. 9 last year. One reason for that rise links to a surge in those adding the crop. Among those who reported growing corn, a whopping 9% said they were adding it — as in they were not sweet corn growers in the previous year. That’s a figure that traditionally stays between 3% to 5%. It was one of only two crops with such a bump — pumpkin is the other.
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Tie for 3. Zucchini/Summer Squash (59%) - HOLDING STEADY
In 2019, this crop ranked No. 3. So, technically with a tie, it holds steady for 2020.
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Tie for 3. Cucumbers (59%) - TRENDING UP
This crop moved up one spot from its 2019 ranking into a 2020 tie.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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2. Peppers (61%) - HOLDING STEADY
Holding steady. 2019 rank of this crop also was No. 2.
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1. Tomatoes (64%) - HOLDING STEADY
King of the veggie crops again. No movement at the top from last year.
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11. Leafy Greens (44%) - TRENDING DOWN
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10. Pumpkins (47%) - TRENDING UP
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9. Cabbage (47%) - HOLDING STEADY
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8. Onions (49%) - TRENDING DOWN
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7. Winter Squash (51%) - TRENDING DOWN
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6. Beans (52%) - TRENDING UP
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5. Sweet Corn (53%) - TRENDING UP
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Tie for 3. Zucchini/Summer Squash (59%) - HOLDING STEADY
And that proved to be the case with the top four crops. But further down the list, things get more interesting.
Check out the slideshow above for not only a rundown of the Top 10 vegetable crops in 2020 — plus one, but also a closer look at other crops on the move.
One thing to note: The percentages represent the operations growing the crop, not the number of acres dedicated to it.
August 12, 2020 
