Cabbage by Pieter van Ispelen U.S. annual per capita use of cabbage is higher than per capita use of any other cruciferous vegetable, including broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, and turnips. In 1996, per capita consumption is estimated to be 10.6 pounds, of which 9.4 pounds was consumed as fresh and the remaining 1.2 pounds was sold in the form of sauerkraut. Consumption levels per capita of both fresh and sauerkraut have been stable over the last ten years. Production of cabbage has been slowly increasing over the years mainly due to population increases. Fresh production in 1996 is estimated to be about 2500 million pounds, compared to 2150 million pounds in 1986.
Trade forms a small part of the cabbage market.
Worldwide, the U.S. is the 7th largest producer of cabbage. In the last five years, China has convincingly taken over as the world's leading producer after the decline of the former Soviet Union. The increase in fall acreage is driven by increases in acreage in the leading fall producing state, Georgia. Favorable growing conditions benefitted the crop in New Jersey, which harvests over 1100 acres, making New Jersey the second largest fall producing state. Water shortages reduced acreage in the Texas Rio Grande Valley leaving total Texas acreage 300 acres less than 1995 levels.