Cucumber Production in the United States

The demand for fresh cucumbers in the U.S. has steadily increased since the 1970s, reaching approximately 11 pounds per capita availability in 2022 (ERS, 2025). This is fueled by the growing appeal of fresh vegetables and the rise of “mini” or snack-sized varieties (ERS, 2021). According to the 2022 Agricultural Census, cucumber production in the United States spans 105,647 total acres and involves 16,391 operations. The demand for cucumbers in the United States is robust and twofold. A significant portion is for the fresh market. The other major driver of demand comes from the processing industry (pickles).  In terms of acreage, Michigan dominates with 29,558 acres, accounting for the largest share of cucumber farming. Michigan mainly produces cucumbers for pickling. The state has a well-established processing infrastructure.  Florida follows with 21,243 acres, while North Carolina (7,754 acres), California (7,254 acres), and Wisconsin (6,180 acres) round out the top five states by acreage. As a major fresh market cucumber producer, Florida's warm climate allows for a long growing season, enabling growers to supply the eastern U.S., especially during the fall and spring when many other regions cannot. When it comes to the number of operations, New York leads with 869, followed by Michigan (842), North Carolina (747), Pennsylvania (728), and California (721).

However, domestic cucumber production in the United States has seen a steady decline in harvested acreage over the past few decades. In 2022, 105,647 acres of cucumbers were harvested, a significant drop from 119,655 acres in 2017 and 111,900 acres in 2012. This downward trend becomes even more pronounced when compared to earlier years, with 151,759 acres harvested in 2007, 166,124 acres in 2002, and 148,182 acres in 1997. 

The U.S.  relies heavily on imports to meet year-round consumer demand, particularly during the winter months. Mexico is the primary source of imported fresh cucumbers, followed by Canada. Prior to 2005, the production of fresh cucumbers within the U.S. consistently surpassed the volume of imports. However, imports have significantly increased, rising from 35% of market availability in the early 1990s to 80% between 2015 and 2020. By 2020, nearly 90% of the U.S. fresh cucumber market was supplied by imports. (ERS, 2021).  The graph below shows that cucumber imports have steadily increased from 46,061 metric tons in 2000 to 1,176,891 metric tons in 2024.

In conclusion, while the demand for cucumbers in the United States continues to grow, domestic production has struggled to keep pace, leading to an increasing reliance on imports. As imports continue to rise, the future of U.S. cucumber farming will likely depend on innovations in production, infrastructure, and marketing strategies to remain competitive.

References

Economic Research Service. (2021). Chart detail: Cucumber production in the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Economic Research Service. (2025). Food availability (per capita) data system. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2022). Agricultural Census. 

This study was supported by the USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative 2019-51181-30019 project number 7123