The American Farm Bureau Federation has released new analysis showing that production costs for six major specialty crops — including apples, blueberries, lettuce, and potatoes — continue to exceed farm-level returns. The organization projects these losses will persist into 2027, putting significant financial strain on growers across multiple categories that are core to the North American produce industry.
This isn't a single-commodity problem. The AFBF report covers a broad cross-section of the fresh produce supply chain, and the finding that costs are outpacing returns for this many crops simultaneously points to a structural profitability crisis — not just a bad season. Elevated input costs, including labor, water, fuel, and packaging, are widely cited as key drivers.
For the industry, this is worth watching carefully. Growers losing money for multiple consecutive years eventually exit — reducing supply, increasing price volatility, and accelerating consolidation. Buyers building long-term supplier relationships should be aware of how financial pressure is reshaping the grower landscape heading into 2027.