Introduction

Spring is approaching, and for many that means deciding what to plant. Before you finalize your seed orders or set your booth prices, it’s worth taking a look at what the numbers say about where Kentucky’s farmers market prices have been and where they might be heading. For a more comprehensive look at prices, you can check out our Price Reports section on the website (https://ccd.uky.edu/pricereports), where all are available for download. 

Remember to base your final prices on your cost of production. This information is helpful during enterprise budgeting, seasonal planning, and before market openings to understand typical price ranges. 

Markets Are Growing, But the Pace Is Slowing

Across all Kentucky farmers markets, average prices rose about 9% from 2024 to 2025, a sign that markets remain healthy and demand is holding steady. But that headline number tells only part of the story.

Urban markets saw a sharper increase of 15%, while rural markets grew at a more modest 7%. It is possible this tells a story reflecting differences in customer base, competition, local supply, or more than likely, a combination of all three. Prices aren’t just skyrocketing upward. The pace of change has slowed considerably compared to a few years ago, suggesting markets are maturing and stabilizing rather than experiencing the volatile swings seen earlier in the decade.

Crops to Watch

It is important to remember that these averages are a guide, not a guarantee. With that said we observed the following crop fluctuations over the last three years.

Rising Prices:

• Carrots: Steady upward trend across urban and rural markets, from $3.05 (2023) to $4.16 (2025) urban and $2.62 to $3.30 rural.
• Peppers: Nearly doubled in urban markets from $1.10 (2023) to $2.17 (2025). A standout performer.
• Cucumbers: After dipping in 2024, prices rebounded strongly in 2025 up to $2.58 urban and holding at $1.25 rural.
• Tomatoes: Rural prices rising to $3.37 (2025), closing the gap between urban prices by $0.82 since 2024

Declining Prices:

• Lettuce: Urban prices dropped significantly, from $8.55 (2023) to $4.36 (2025). This could be an indicator of more supply or shifting demand.
• Greens: After a spike to $7.15 urban in 2024, prices fell back to $4.19 in 2025, suggesting that spike may have been short-lived.
• Broccoli: Gradual decline in urban markets from $4.31 (2023) to $3.60 (2025), even as rural prices have edged upward.

For growers considering what to plant this spring, these trends are worth weighing alongside your own input costs and market conditions.

Crops to Watch

This analysis is only possible because our dedicated market reporters across the state take the time to report their prices. The more markets that participate, the stronger and more accurate this resource becomes for you and your fellow growers.

Is your market reporting prices? If not, reach out to your market manager and encourage them to connect with the UK Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) to get started.

If you manage a market and want to get involved, contact Gabe.Cassone@uky.edu or the CCD directly. Your data matters — and your market’s voice plays an important role in shaping the future of Kentucky agriculture.

Recommended Citation Format:   

Cassone, G. “Thinking Spring in Specialty Crops.” Economics and Policy Update 26:3, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, March 31, 2026.  

Author(s) Contact Information:

Gabriel Cassone | Gabe.Cassone@uky.edu