Kale Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Kale is a leafy cruciferous green sold fresh for salads and smoothies and as a cooked vegetable, marketed heavily as a health food. California's Central Coast, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, South Carolina and Massachusetts are the main US supply regions, with curly, red and the Lacinato or Tuscan variety all sold through wholesale terminal markets.

Pricing through 2026 has been uneven across origins and pack sizes, with USDA terminal reports frequently showing light supply. Baltimore quoted Florida Lacinato kale at USD 24.00 per 12-count carton in June, while shipping-point reports from Lexington, South Carolina showed bunched kale at USD 10.00 to 12.00 per 24-count carton in July before supply became too limited to establish a price later that month. Broader US retail fresh vegetable prices rose 6.3 percent year on year in July.

Kale Prices in October 2026

USDA terminal reports from mid-October show California Central Coast kale at USD 18.00 to 20.00 per 24-count carton depending on color and grade, Lacinato at USD 20.00 to 24.00, and East Coast origins ranging USD 13.00 to 24.00 per carton, with markets described as steady. Four drivers apply.

• Farm labor disruption: A grower survey found a significant share of farms lost workers due to fear of immigration enforcement, with some crews shrinking by more than half after enforcement action, tightening harvest capacity for leafy greens including kale.
• California wage legislation: A bill raising California's agricultural minimum wage passed the legislature in August and awaited the governor's signature, with growers warning the added labor cost would be passed to consumers or absorbed on thin margins.
• Light shipping-point supply: Lexington, South Carolina reported light kale supply and light demand in late July, with offerings dropping further within weeks to a level too limited to establish a market price for kale and related greens.
• Broader vegetable inflation: USDA's Economic Research Service reported retail fresh vegetable prices up 6.3 percent year on year in July, with economists expecting prices to keep rising as labor-driven cost pressure spreads across leafy greens.

Supplier news: A Michigan State University model estimated that a sizable cut in farm employment could raise prices on specialty crops by several percent, adding billions in consumer costs across leafy greens and other labor-intensive produce. Tight harvest labor keeps near-term supply constrained, while the pending wage increase points to a higher cost base longer term.

Kale Price Forecast for 2026

Expect prices to hold broadly firm through H2 2026, with modest gains in most markets as demand continues outpacing acreage growth.

Germany is the exception to watch, where a strong regional harvest has eased pricing pressure relative to its Northern European peers.

Weather conditions through the autumn planting and harvest window remain the key variable for Q3 and Q4 pricing across all four markets.

On balance, the first half of 2026 brought a 1.5% increase average move across the 4 markets covered here, a trend that should persist through year end absent a material change in the underlying drivers.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Kale Prices Q2 2026:

• United States: USD 1.85/KG
• Germany: USD 1.96/KG
• Netherlands: USD 2.05/KG
• United Kingdom: USD 2.12/KG

Kale Prices in United States

In Q2 2026, United States priced at USD 1.85/KG, up 3.9% from USD 1.78/KG the previous quarter, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Steady demand growth from the powdered supplement segment met a normal seasonal harvest, supporting a modest increase, working out to United States trading about 7.3% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Kale Prices in Germany

Germany reached USD 1.96/KG in Q2 2026, a strong regional harvest eased supply pressure and Germany, placing it the 3rd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

A strong regional harvest eased supply pressure, and Germany was the only market in this group to ease rather than gain, leaving Germany running roughly 1.8% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

Kale Prices in Netherlands

Netherlands rose 3.5% to USD 2.05/KG in Q2 2026, consistent export demand across Northern Europe kept Dutch pricing, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q2 2026 in Netherlands?

Consistent export demand across Northern Europe kept Dutch pricing firming in step with the broader region, with Netherlands now sitting about 2.8% above the 4-region average this quarter.

Kale Prices in United Kingdom

USD 2.12/KG. That is where United Kingdom landed in Q2 2026, up 1.9% from USD 2.08/KG in Q1 2026, making it the priciest of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q2 2026 in United Kingdom?

Tighter domestic supply against steady demand kept UK pricing at the top of this group, which puts United Kingdom roughly 6.3% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Kale Prices Q1 2026:

• United States: USD 1.78/KG
• Germany: USD 2.02/KG
• Netherlands: USD 1.98/KG
• United Kingdom: USD 2.08/KG

Kale Prices in United States

In Q1 2026, United States priced at USD 1.78/KG, up 1.9% from USD 1.75/KG the previous quarter, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q1 2026 in United States?

Early-year demand from the wellness and supplement segment supported a firm start to 2026, working out to United States trading about 9.4% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Kale Prices in Germany

Germany reached USD 2.02/KG in Q1 2026, a favourable early growing season kept prices firming modestly, placing it the 2nd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

A favourable early growing season kept prices firming modestly before the stronger Q2 harvest eased pressure, leaving Germany running roughly 2.8% above the 4-region average for the quarter.

Kale Prices in Netherlands

Netherlands rose 1.7% to USD 1.98/KG in Q1 2026, steady export demand supported a modest early-year gain, putting it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q1 2026 in Netherlands?

Steady export demand supported a modest early-year gain, with Netherlands now sitting about 0.8% above the 4-region average this quarter.

Kale Prices in United Kingdom

USD 2.08/KG. That is where United Kingdom landed in Q1 2026, up 1.6% from USD 2.05/KG in Q4 2025, making it the priciest of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Kale change in Q1 2026 in United Kingdom?

Consistent domestic demand carried prices higher as the new year began, which puts United Kingdom roughly 5.9% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Quarterly Kale Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 1.84/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2.00 by Q2 2026, a gain of 8.6% over six quarters.

What was Kale Price in 2025?

Looking back at 2025, the global kale average ran from about USD 1.84/KG in Q1 to USD 1.93 by Q4, a 5.2% increase across the year.

Kale Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices moved from about USD 1.65/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.75 by Q4, up roughly 5.9%. United States closed the year ranked 4 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

Kale Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany prices moved from about USD 1.90/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.99 by Q4, up roughly 4.7%, leaving Germany in 2 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Kale Prices in Netherlands in 2025

Netherlands prices moved from about USD 1.85/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.95 by Q4, up roughly 5.2%. That left Netherlands ranked 3 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

Kale Prices in United Kingdom in 2025

United Kingdom prices moved from about USD 1.95/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2.05 by Q4, up roughly 5.0%, placing United Kingdom 1 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

How We Can Help

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