Fruit and Vegetable Canning — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 68% of fruit and vegetable canning businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 7.4%.
Is Fruit and Vegetable Canning a Good Business to Start?
With a 68% five-year survival rate, fruit and vegetable canning has an above-average survival rate compared to the national average of roughly 50%. This makes it a relatively safe industry to enter — businesses here tend to find stable demand and sustainable economics.
The annual exit rate of 7.4% is lower than many sectors, suggesting that once established, these businesses have staying power. That said, lower failure rates often correlate with higher barriers to entry or established competition.
Entry vs. Exit Rates
Annual rate of new businesses opening versus existing businesses closing.
Net negative: more businesses closing than opening (-0.9 pp spread).
Job Creation & Destruction
The industry is adding jobs faster than losing them — a positive sign for both workers and new business owners looking to hire. Total employment: 166,329 workers across 1,469 firms.
Want to know how much fruit and vegetable canning businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Fruit and Vegetable Canning →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of fruit and vegetable canning businesses fail?
- Approximately 32% of fruit and vegetable canning businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 7.4%, with 118 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the fruit and vegetable canning industry growing or shrinking?
- The fruit and vegetable canning industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +2.3% per year. New businesses are entering at 6.6% while 7.4% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.