Journal Article

The US Edible Flower Market through the Farmers’ Market Lens

Miller, Chad T., Lee, Makenzie K.

2026

Overview

Consumers’ desires for new culinary experiences have provided avenues for the resurgence of less commonly known food crops such as edible flowers. With historical uses in civilizations such as ancient Rome and the Victorian era, this specialty crop has followed waves of popularity with a current increase in public interest. Edible flower research has focused primarily on understanding the health benefits and increasing shelf life. General information about the edible flower markets and trends, especially in the United States, is limited. Edible flowers have the potential to be a profitable supplementary crop, so understanding the characteristics of the US edible flower market is key to assisting growers in making informed decisions related to production and marketing. A national survey of US farmers’ market managers was conducted in Summer 2025. The survey asked managers to share their market demographics, the perceived status of the edible flower industry in their area, and their opinions regarding edible flower market characteristics. Approximately 1000 farmers’ markets were contacted, with 229 responses for a 22.9% response rate. Respondents located in urban (62.8%) and western (52.1%) regions were more likely to sell edible flowers in their markets. Southern (25%) and rural (25.9%) respondents were less likely to sell them. The most sold edible species by markets were nasturtium, calendula, marigolds, and pansies. Vendors who sold edible flower species alone accounted for only 3.5%, with vendors who primarily sold vegetables (47.7%) and vegetables and fruit (32.6%) as the most common vendor type, thus supporting claims of edible flowers sales primarily as supplemental income. When asked about the largest barriers to the edible flower market, managers shared that public knowledge (72.5%) and marketability (63.8%) were the biggest barriers to the expansion of this industry. The results of our study provide more insight into the US edible flower market. Moreover, it highlights areas of future research that can support producers interested in growing and expanding edible flowers sales and supplementing their current practices.