This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = spinach(GDF v2.0, 3449 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Spinach |
| Scientific name | Spinacia oleracea |
| Family / Genus | Amaranthaceae / Spinacia |
| Produce category | Leafy Green |
| Produce subcategory | Cooking Green |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4090 |
| PLU — organic | 94090 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_7307 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 250.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Leaf (generic blend) | 45% | Mixed young-harvest hybrids for salad blends, smooth and savoy leaf types, fast-growing, bolt-resistant, dark green color, tender texture |
| Savoy types (Bloomsdale strains) | 18% | Crinkled dark green leaves, cold-hardy, traditional flavor, excellent for cooking and fresh market, vigorous growth |
| Flat/Smooth Leaf types (Space, Corvair) | 15% | Smooth, broad oval leaves, easier to clean, fast growth, uniform appearance, good for fresh market and processing |
| Tyee | 8% | Semi-savoy, downy mildew resistant, bolt-resistant, dark green, excellent for fresh bunching and processing, high yields |
| Regiment | 5% | Semi-savoy, upright growth habit, downy mildew resistant, uniform dark green leaves, good for bunching |
| Catalina | 3.5% | Smooth leaf, bolt-resistant, broad leaves, disease resistant, good for baby leaf production |
| Olympia | 2.5% | Dark green savoy type, cold-tolerant, downy mildew resistant, excellent for winter production |
| Bloomsdale Long Standing | 1.5% | Classic savoy type, heavily crinkled, slow to bolt, deep green, traditional flavor, open-pollinated |
| Kolibri | 0.8% | Baby leaf specialist, uniform small leaves, fast maturity, dark green, high mildew resistance |
| Red Cardinal/Red Kitten | 0.7% | Red-veined specialty type, baby leaf production, novelty color for salad mixes, tender texture |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 31.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 5 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.3 μL/kg·hr typical (0.1–0.5) |
| Sensitivity class | moderate |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.5 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: FINN: Spinach develops russet spotting (brown flecks) and accelerated yellowing when exposed to ethylene >0.5 ppm. Critical to segregate from ethylene producers in cold chain. Use ethylene scrubbers in storage facilities.
Mixed-load compatibility
leafy_greens_group_1
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? Yes
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily, driven by health consciousness, salad consumption, and smoothie trends. Baby spinach segment growing fastest at 6-8% annually. Overall market growth 3-4% annually.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.42 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.38 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Flat/Smooth Leaf | 25% |
| Savoy/Crinkled Leaf | 20% |
| Semi-Savoy | 30% |
| Baby Spinach | 25% |
Pack sizes
- 8-12 bunches per carton (bunched)
- 4 oz clamshells
- 5 oz bags/clamshells
- 9 oz bags
- 10 oz bags
- 16 oz bags
- 2.5 lb bags (foodservice)
- 20-24 lb bulk cartons
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.