Garlic Market Data, Grades and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-09Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$18.5B

Producing countries tracked

9

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates for the 2025 United States garlic crop, published in February 2026. They combine fresh-market and processing production and are dated national crop measures—not global production, planting-stock availability, a current physical offer or a live delivered price.

United States garlic planted area

25000

acres · crop year 2025

United States garlic harvested area

24900

acres · crop year 2025

United States garlic production

3.49

million cwt · crop year 2025

United States garlic crop value

245

million USD · crop year 2025

Fresh bulbs, peeled, processed and planting garlic are separate products

Fresh cured bulbs are traded by variety or color, grade, size, compactness, clove fill and condition. Peeled cloves, dehydrated flakes and powder, frozen garlic and other processed forms add processing, composition, microbiological, pack and shelf-life requirements. Planting stock is propagation material with certification and phytosanitary evidence. Atlas retains product form and intended use before comparing crop, grade, price or trade evidence.

Variety, cure, bulb size, grade and defects travel with the lot

The cited USDA standard defines U.S. No. 1 garlic as having similar varietal characteristics, maturity, good cure, compact bulbs and fairly plump cloves, with freedom from mold, decay and shattered cloves and limits for other damage. Unless otherwise specified, the minimum bulb diameter is 1-1/2 inches. The standard also specifies defect and size tolerances. A comparable physical record therefore keeps variety or color, exact grade, inspection point, size basis, cure, defect results, crop, treatment, pack and certificate context attached.

Crop totals do not determine a delivered garlic price

USDA NASS estimated 3.49 million hundredweight of United States garlic production from 24,900 harvested acres in 2025, with a crop value of $245 million. The release separates 1.19 million hundredweight for fresh market and 115,038 tons for processing. Those dated aggregates span varieties, grades, sizes, product channels and contract structures. A delivered price still requires the exact form, grade, cure, size, condition, crop year, package, origin, destination, Incoterm, delivery window and current permitted physical evidence.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are fresh-bulb and processing garlic interchangeable?

No. Whole fresh bulbs, peeled cloves, dehydrated, frozen and other processed garlic use different quality, composition, handling, pack and shelf-life requirements. The product form must remain explicit.

Does U.S. No. 1 garlic define bulb size?

Yes. Unless another size is specified, the USDA standard sets a minimum bulb diameter of 1-1/2 inches and includes a separate size tolerance. The actual contract size must still be stated.

What does the 3.49 million hundredweight figure represent?

It is USDA NASS's estimate of total United States garlic production for crop year 2025, combining fresh-market and processing channels. It is not global production or a current physical price.

Which fields make physical garlic offers comparable?

Product form and intended use, variety or color, grade and inspection basis, maturity and cure, bulb compactness and clove fill, minimum and count size, sheath condition, mold, decay, shattered cloves, staining, sunburn, sprouts, roots and other defect tolerances, crop year, treatment, package and net weight, origin, phytosanitary or seed certification where relevant, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.