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Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Federico Irigoyen Federico Irigoyen New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 42448

Revenue

$143.7bn

2024

$143.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

126k

Businesses

8,926

Wages

$X.Xbn

Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

The Fruit and Vegetable Wholesaling industry has experienced moderate revenue growth over the past five years. Wholesalers engaged in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. Revenue is dependent on the market prices of fruits and vegetables in addition to the ability of consumers to spend their incomes at grocery stores and restaurants. Increased per capita disposable income has permitted consumers to purchase more fresh produce from grocery stores and visit restaurants more frequently. Consequentially, demand from downstream industries has grown for much of the period, driving revenue growth for wholesalers. As the economy has reopened, this industry has bounced back significantly, resulting in revenue growing at a CAGR of 4.5% through the end of 2024 to $143.7 billion, including a growth of 19.1% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Technological advancements have enhanced supply chain efficiency and transparency. These technologies allow wholesalers to optimize inventory management, reduce waste and ensure product freshness, boosting operational efficiency and consumer trust.
  • Fruit sales continue to support the wholesale industry. Apples and bananas are the most popular fruits, and innovations in the produce production industry and globalization have allowed the sale of these goods year-round.
  • Coastal states play a crucial role in industry exports. California is a significant center of the wholesale industry because of its proximity to Mexico, a key importer of goods from the United States.
  • Internal competition has led to innovation. Innovations in maintaining produce freshness characterize internal competition. Also, labor-intensive produce preparation options like precut fruits and vegetables have become increasingly popular.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $143.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Rising product prices have sustained revenue, but have isolated consumers

  • As a result of decreased crop output stemming from unfavorable weather conditions, fruit and vegetable prices have swelled over the past five years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Ecological concerns will lead to innovation

  • In the face of volatile weather and emerging disease patterns, crop production costs have soared, pushing farmers towards innovative solutions.

Biggest companies in the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Vegetables, Fruits and Other products. Vegetables is the largest segment of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

Fruits' share of revenue remained afloat

  • Common fruits such as bananas, apples, watermelons, grapes, berries and peaches buoy revenue from this segment. Bananas are among the most popular products due to their abundant nutritional value and low cost. Apples are historically a staple of the US diet and are another example of a popular subcategory of fruits.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators wholesale a range of fresh fruits and vegetables to supermarkets, delis, restaurants, cafes and institutions such as hospitals and retirement homes. This industry does not include fruit and vegetable processing.

What's included in this industry?

Fresh fruit wholesalingFresh vegetable wholesaling

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

RIPENINGSUPPLY CHAINCOOPERATIVE (CO-OP)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42448 - Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Technological advancements have enhanced supply chain efficiency and transparency. These technologies allow wholesalers to optimize inventory management, reduce waste and ens...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Fruit sales continue to support the wholesale industry. Apples and bananas are the most popular fruits, and innovations in the produce production industry and globalization h...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Coastal states play a crucial role in industry exports. California is a significant center of the wholesale industry because of its proximity to Mexico, a key importer of goo...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition has led to innovation. Innovations in maintaining produce freshness characterize internal competition. Also, labor-intensive produce preparation options ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Industry leaders have diverse options. Leading wholesalers offer much more than just fruits and vegetables. Sysco and US Foods, the two most prominent companies in the indust...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The industry is beset by heavy regulation at the federal and state levels. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlines standards for growing, transporting and selling pro...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Purchases are the most significant industry expense. Over the past five years, the volatile prices of fresh fruit and vegetables have made profitability difficult.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
    • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
    • Income Statement (2017-2022)
    • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
    • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

    The market size of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $143.7bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

    There are 8,926 businesses in the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

    What does the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

    Fresh fruit wholesaling and Fresh vegetable wholesaling are part of the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing in the US
    • Meat Markets in the US
    • Fish & Seafood Markets in the US

    Complementors

    • Vegetable Farming in the US
    • Canned Fruit & Vegetable Processing in the US
    • Fruit & Vegetable Markets in the US

    International industries

    • Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in Canada
    • Fruit and Vegetable Wholesaling in Australia
    • Fruit and Vegetable Wholesaling in New Zealand
    • Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling in the UK
    • Food, Beverage & Tobacco Wholesaling in Ireland

    View all industries in United States

    Methodology

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the US include: 

    • US Census Bureau
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • US International Trade Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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