Americans now drink more bottled water than soda, yet still consume 38 gallons of soft drinks per person annually. The food industry employs one in ten U.S. workers, supporting over a trillion dollars in grocery sales.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. per capita consumption of red meat was 112 pounds in 2022, beef 57 lbs
- Chicken consumption reached 98 pounds per capita in 2022, highest ever recorded
- Fluid milk consumption dropped to 17.5 gallons per capita in 2022, down 40% since 1970
- U.S. food industry employed 20.3 million workers in 2023, 10% of total employment
- Farm sector jobs totaled 2.6 million in 2022, average wage $70,000
- Food processing employed 1.8 million in 2023, manufacturing hubs in Midwest
- The U.S. food manufacturing sector generated $1.02 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing advanced automation in packaging lines
- Processed meat products accounted for 25% of U.S. food processing output in 2023, valued at $250 billion annually
- Dairy processing plants produced 150 billion pounds of fluid milk products in 2022, with pasteurization rates at 99%
- In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.7 billion bushels, marking a record high driven by favorable weather and advanced farming techniques
- Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.02 billion bushels in 2022, up 7% from the previous year due to expanded acreage
- Wheat production for the 2022/23 marketing year was 1.98 billion bushels, with winter wheat accounting for 1.26 billion bushels
- U.S. grocery retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2023, with supermarkets capturing 60% market share
- Convenience stores sold $285 billion in food and beverage in 2022, up 8% YoY
- Online grocery sales grew to $100 billion in 2023, representing 10% of total grocery sales
In 2022 Americans consumed more chicken and plants, drank less milk, and paid higher food prices.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption24 stats
01
U.S. per capita consumption of red meat was 112 pounds in 2022, beef 57 lbs
02
Chicken consumption reached 98 pounds per capita in 2022, highest ever recorded
03
Fluid milk consumption dropped to 17.5 gallons per capita in 2022, down 40% since 1970
04
Cheese consumption hit 40 pounds per capita in 2022, mozzarella leading at 10 lbs
05
Fresh fruit consumption was 126 pounds per capita in 2022, bananas 27 lbs
06
Vegetable consumption totaled 140 pounds per capita in 2022, potatoes 50 lbs
07
Added sugar intake averaged 57 pounds per capita in 2022, from beverages 30%
08
Bottled water consumption reached 45 gallons per capita in 2022, surpassing soda
09
Soft drink consumption was 38 gallons per capita in 2022, diet varieties 25%
10
Coffee consumption averaged 9 pounds per capita in 2022, roasted beans basis
11
Beer consumption was 26 gallons per capita in 2022, light lager dominant
12
Wine consumption reached 2.6 gallons per capita in 2022, up 3% YoY
13
Organic food consumption grew to 6% of total food sales in 2022, $62 billion
14
Plant-based milk consumption hit 4 gallons per capita in 2022, almond leading
15
Yogurt consumption was 13 pounds per capita in 2022, Greek style 50%
16
Snack consumption averaged 30 pounds per capita in 2023, salty snacks 60%
17
Candy consumption totaled 25 pounds per capita in 2022, chocolate 60%
18
Bread consumption was 50 pounds per capita in 2022, white bread 40%
19
Pasta consumption reached 20 pounds per capita in 2022, dry weight basis
20
Rice consumption averaged 27 pounds per capita in 2022, long-grain 80%
21
Egg consumption hit 279 per capita in 2022, table eggs 93%
22
Seafood consumption was 19.8 pounds per capita in 2022, shrimp 5 lbs
23
38% of U.S. adults followed a specific diet in 2023, keto and vegan popular
24
Food waste per capita was 325 pounds in 2022, fruits and veggies 40%
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
Americans have masterfully engineered a diet of cheeseburger-shaped contradictions: we're chugging water like health gurus while eating our weight in candy, dieting with fervor even as we waste mountains of fresh produce, and have replaced milk with lattes just so we can pour more cheese on our potatoes.
02 · Category
Employment and Economics20 stats
01
U.S. food industry employed 20.3 million workers in 2023, 10% of total employment
02
Farm sector jobs totaled 2.6 million in 2022, average wage $70,000
03
Food processing employed 1.8 million in 2023, manufacturing hubs in Midwest
04
Grocery retail jobs reached 4.5 million in 2023, turnover rate 50%
05
Foodservice employed 12.4 million in 2023, restaurants 70%
06
Total food and beverage economic output was $1.5 trillion in 2022, 5.5% GDP
07
Food exports reached $180 billion in 2023, soybeans $28 billion top
08
Food imports totaled $200 billion in 2023, seafood and fruits leading
09
Food manufacturing contributed $250 billion to GDP in 2022, 1% total
10
Average farm income was $89,000in 2022, net cash basis
11
Food retail trade deficit was $20 billion in 2023, due to import growth
12
R&D spending in food industry hit $5 billion in 2022, innovation focus
13
Food industry venture capital reached $10 billion in 2023, alt-proteins 30%
14
Inflation in food prices averaged 8.5% in 2022, meats highest
15
Food-at-home CPI rose 11.4% in 2022, dairy 18%
16
Sustainable packaging investment was $2 billion in 2023, compostable materials
17
Labor costs in food processing up 10% in 2023, wages to $25/hr average
18
Food industry taxes contributed $100 billion federally in 2022
19
E-commerce food sales multiplier effect added 500,000 jobs in 2023
20
Organic sector economic impact $80 billion in 2023, 1 million jobs
Interpretation
Employment and Economics Interpretation
America puts dinner on the table with a sprawling, $1.5 trillion paradox: a delicate dance where highly skilled farmers earn a decent wage, yet the system relies on a precarious army of 12.4 million restaurant and grocery workers constantly coming and going, all while we import more fancy seafood than we export soybeans, pay dearly at the checkout, and bet billions that the future is alt-protein and compostable packaging.
03 · Category
Processing26 stats
01
The U.S. food manufacturing sector generated $1.02 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing advanced automation in packaging lines
02
Processed meat products accounted for 25% of U.S. food processing output in 2023, valued at $250 billion annually
03
Dairy processing plants produced 150 billion pounds of fluid milk products in 2022, with pasteurization rates at 99%
04
U.S. bakery product manufacturing reached $80 billion in value added in 2022, driven by bread and cake segments
05
Beverage manufacturing, including soft drinks, generated $190 billion in 2022, with bottling efficiency up 15%
06
Snack food manufacturing output was $45 billion in 2022, featuring high-pressure processing for preservation
07
Frozen food processing hit $70 billion in sales in 2022, with IQF technology preserving 90% nutrients
08
Canned food production totaled 12 billion units in 2022, with aseptic packaging reducing waste by 20%
09
U.S. confectionery manufacturing revenue was $40 billion in 2022, using precision tempering for chocolate
10
Vegetable and fruit processing generated $55 billion in 2022, with juicing lines processing 1 million tons yearly
11
Poultry processing output reached 40 billion pounds in 2022, with automated evisceration lines at 140 birds/min
12
Seafood processing plants handled 5.5 billion pounds in 2022, using flash freezing at -40°F
13
Grain milling produced 350 million tons of flour in 2022, with roller mills achieving 98% extraction rates
14
Sugar refining output was 11 million tons in 2022, refined via carbonatation and centrifugation
15
Edible oil processing extracted 25 billion pounds of soybean oil in 2022, using solvent extraction methods
16
Prepared soup manufacturing reached $8 billion in 2022, with retort pouches extending shelf life to 18 months
17
Baby food processing produced 500 million units in 2022, adhering to strict HAACP protocols
18
Pet food manufacturing output was $30 billion in 2022, with extrusion cooking at 300°F for kibble
19
Cheese processing yielded 15 billion pounds in 2022, using cheddaring for texture control
20
Yogurt production reached 2.5 billion gallons in 2022, fermented with live cultures at 104°F
21
Ice cream manufacturing produced 1.4 billion gallons in 2022, homogenized at 2,000 psi
22
Butter production totaled 2.1 billion pounds in 2022, churned via continuous separators
23
Margarine output was 1.2 billion pounds in 2022, emulsified with mono-diglycerides
24
Pasta manufacturing reached 2 billion pounds in 2022, extruded through bronze dies for texture
25
Tortilla production hit 6 billion pounds in 2022, nixtamalized corn masa base
26
Ready-to-eat cereal output was $12 billion in 2022, flaked via high-temperature puffing
Interpretation
Processing Interpretation
It appears our nation's food-industrial complex has become so meticulously engineered in its relentless quest for shelf-stable, portion-controlled, and pathogen-free consumables that we now measure prosperity not by the amber waves of grain, but by the billions of units processed, the relentless churn of the evisceration line, and the triumphant hiss of the retort pouch sealing yet another meal into edible eternity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.7 billion bushels, marking a record high driven by favorable weather and advanced farming techniques
02
Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.02 billion bushels in 2022, up 7% from the previous year due to expanded acreage
03
Wheat production for the 2022/23 marketing year was 1.98 billion bushels, with winter wheat accounting for 1.26 billion bushels
04
U.S. cotton production hit 18.7 million bales in 2022/23, the highest since 2019, primarily from Texas and Georgia
05
In 2023, U.S. beef production reached 27.2 billion pounds, influenced by herd liquidation and strong export demand
06
Milk production in the U.S. was 226.3 billion pounds in 2022, with California leading at 41.2 billion pounds
07
U.S. broiler production totaled 61.5 billion pounds in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021
08
Pork production reached 28.3 billion pounds in 2022, driven by efficient hog operations in Iowa and North Carolina
09
U.S. apple production was 11.4 billion pounds in 2022, with Washington state producing 69% of the total
10
Potato production in the U.S. amounted to 433 million hundredweight in 2022, led by Idaho at 134 million cwt
11
U.S. rice production was 231.3 million cwt in 2022/23, with long-grain varieties making up 77%
12
Almond production in California, which accounts for 80% of U.S. output, reached 2.6 billion pounds in 2022
13
U.S. grape production totaled 7.2 million tons in 2022, with California dominating at 99%
14
Orange production in the U.S. was 3.9 million tons in 2022/23, down 5% due to weather challenges in Florida
15
U.S. peanut production reached 5.8 billion pounds in 2022, led by Georgia's 51% share
16
Sorghum production was 454 million bushels in 2022, primarily for grain and ethanol use
17
U.S. sugar beet production hit 34.4 million tons in 2022, with Minnesota leading production
18
Hay production totaled 125.3 million tons in 2022, essential for livestock feed
19
U.S. tomato production for fresh market was 1.8 million tons in 2022, with California supplying 90%
20
Strawberry production reached 1.4 million tons in 2022, almost entirely from California
21
U.S. barley production was 194.6 million bushels in 2022, used mainly for malt and feed
22
Oat production totaled 67.1 million bushels in 2022, down due to competition from other crops
23
U.S. sunflower seed production was 2.2 million pounds in 2022, focused on oilseed varieties
24
Dry bean production reached 28.3 million cwt in 2022, with North Dakota leading
25
U.S. walnut production was 717,000 tons in 2022, all from California orchards
26
Pecan production totaled 343 million pounds in 2022, boosted by Georgia's output
27
U.S. pistachio production hit 1.1 billion pounds in 2022, a record from California
28
Avocado production was 404,000 tons in 2022, with 90% from California
29
U.S. lettuce production for fresh market reached 3.4 million tons in 2022, led by California and Arizona
30
Onion production totaled 7.6 million tons in 2022, with California producing over 50%
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
The sheer, staggering tonnage of America's agricultural output reveals a nation that has mastered the art of feeding itself and the world, though the menu is increasingly dominated by a few powerhouse states and relentless efficiency.
05 · Category
Sales and Retail24 stats
01
U.S. grocery retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2023, with supermarkets capturing 60% market share
02
Convenience stores sold $285 billion in food and beverage in 2022, up 8% YoY
03
Online grocery sales grew to $100 billion in 2023, representing 10% of total grocery sales
04
Walmart's U.S. grocery sales were $250 billion in fiscal 2023, leading all retailers
05
Fresh produce sales in U.S. retail hit $75 billion in 2022, with organic up 5%
06
Dairy department sales reached $110 billion in 2022, milk comprising 40%
07
Deli prepared foods sales grew to $25 billion in 2023, rotisserie chicken leading
08
Bakery sales in supermarkets totaled $40 billion in 2022, in-store baked goods 55%
09
Snack aisle sales hit $50 billion in 2023, chips and pretzels dominating
10
Beverage sales in retail were $200 billion in 2022, bottled water up 12%
11
Meat department sales reached $130 billion in 2023, beef at $50 billion
12
Seafood retail sales were $18 billion in 2022, frozen segment 45%
13
Candy and gum sales totaled $45 billion in 2023, chocolate 60%
14
Frozen food sales grew to $80 billion in 2022, vegetables 25% share
15
Canned goods sales were $35 billion in 2023, soups and vegetables leading
16
Health and wellness food sales hit $60 billion in 2022, gluten-free up 10%
17
Plant-based product sales reached $12 billion in 2023, meat alternatives 40%
18
Alcohol beverage sales in grocery stores were $30 billion in 2022, beer 70%
19
Household essentials food-related sales totaled $20 billion in 2023, spices leading
20
E-commerce food delivery sales hit $25 billion in 2023 via apps like DoorDash
21
Club stores like Costco sold $50 billion in groceries in 2023, bulk packs key
22
Dollar stores food sales reached $40 billion in 2022, private label 60%
23
Average U.S. household spent $5,703on food at home in 2022, up 11% YoY
24
Per capita food spending away from home was $3,596in 2022, restaurants 70%
Interpretation
Sales and Retail Interpretation
While American wallets are funding a trillion-dollar culinary landscape where supermarkets reign, convenience stores hustle, and online carts quietly conquer a tenth of the kingdom, the nation's true appetite is revealed in the relentless, multi-billion dollar pursuit of rotisserie chicken, cold milk, and the perfect chip.
Reference
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Us Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Us Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Us Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level