A new Cornell University study warns that America's fresh broccoli supply is highly exposed to drought risk because more than 90% of the crop grown in the United States comes from California. Researchers examined how prolonged dry conditions in the state could disrupt broccoli shipments, highlighting a significant vulnerability in the national supply chain for a widely consumed vegetable. The findings matter because a heavy reliance on a single drought-prone region leaves prices and availability susceptible to sharp swings whenever water shortages hit California's farms.

To address this, the Cornell team is exploring whether expanding broccoli cultivation to Eastern states could create a more resilient, geographically diversified supply. Such diversification could help cushion the national market against future droughts by reducing dependence on California's water resources. The research underscores broader concerns about the fragility of concentrated agricultural production in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.