Vegetable Growth and Price Outlook for September 2026

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced its outlook for the growth conditions, shipment volumes, and prices in September 2026 for vegetables shipped to the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, based on interviews with major production areas and others.

As vegetable price fluctuations caused by unsettled weather have grown in recent years, interviews with major production areas, wholesale companies, and others have been conducted since 2011. This price outlook was prepared using the average for the most recent five years as normal.

This initiative aims to promote the optimization of shipment decisions by production areas and consumer purchasing behavior, thereby contributing to stable vegetable supply and prices.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries operates the Vegetable-Eating Project, which promotes increased vegetable consumption. The ministry explains that vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other nutrients, and are essential foods for staying healthy and energetic every day.

The 2025-base Consumer Price Index was 102.0 overall and 103.1 for food in July 2026. However, the price benchmark for this outlook is the average for the past five years.

The September 2025 arrival shares were 45% from Hokkaido and 44% from Aomori for daikon; 97% from Hokkaido for carrots; 96% from Nagano for Chinese cabbage; and 79% from Gunma and 15% from Iwate for cabbage. Daikon, Chinese cabbage, and cabbage are expected to have shipment volumes and prices around normal levels in September. Carrot shipment volumes are expected to be above normal and prices below normal in the first half, while both are expected to be around normal levels in the second half.

The arrival shares were 44% from Gunma and 39% from Tochigi for spinach; 21% each from Hokkaido, Akita, and Aomori and 9% from Ibaraki for green onions; 72% from Hokkaido and 21% from Nagano for broccoli; and 86% from Nagano and 12% from Gunma for lettuce. Spinach, green onions, and broccoli are expected to remain around normal levels. Lettuce shipment volumes are expected to be above normal and prices below normal.

The arrival shares were 30% from Fukushima, 14% from Gunma, 11% from Iwate, and 10% from Saitama for cucumbers; 41% from Gunma, 23% from Ibaraki, and 22% from Tochigi for eggplants; and 17% from Chiba, 16% from Fukushima, 16% from Hokkaido, and 13% from Gunma for tomatoes. In the first half, cucumber and tomato shipment volumes are expected to be slightly below normal and prices slightly above normal, while both are expected to be around normal levels in the second half. Eggplants are expected to remain around normal levels throughout September.

The arrival shares were 44% from Iwate, 30% from Ibaraki, and 10% from Fukushima for green peppers; 97% from Hokkaido for potatoes; 75% from Chiba and 17% from Saitama for taro; and 90% from Hokkaido for onions. Green peppers and taro are expected to remain around normal levels. Potatoes and onions are tending toward larger sizes, with shipment volumes expected to be above normal and prices below normal.

Regarding growth conditions, Hokkaido-grown daikon is showing a tendency toward smaller sizes due to low rainfall since August, but no major impact on shipment volumes is expected. Chinese cabbage growth recovered after rainfall following low rainfall from July to early August, and cabbage is also showing signs of recovery after rainfall in June and high temperatures and low rainfall in July. Cucumber growth in the Tohoku region stalled because of insufficient sunshine and low morning and evening temperatures from the latter half of July through August. Concerns have been raised about tomatoes because of low temperatures in June, insufficient sunshine from the latter half of July through August, and poor fruit setting caused by high temperatures in mid-July in some production areas. A temporary decline in eggplant shipment volumes due to typhoons in August is also a concern.