These Are the Most Salad-Curious States in America, According to a New Study

Taylor Farms analyzed ingredient searches across five salad trends, from hot honey dressings to gut-health toppings.

Americans are apparently putting a lot more thought into their salads than a sad pile of lettuce and bottled ranch.

New data from Taylor Farms found that Americans now eat about 39 salads a year, a 4% jump, while online conversation about salad has climbed 30% year over year. The company also looked at Google search volume for ingredients tied to five trending salad profiles, then adjusted the data by state population to find the most “salad-curious” states in the U.S.

The five trends studied were Swicy & Swangy, Crunch Core, Gut Glory, Powerhouse Protein, and Newstalgia. Translation: people are searching for hot honey dressings, crispy chickpeas, kimchi, quinoa, lentils, wedge salads, Waldorf-style throwbacks, and a whole lot of toppings that make salad feel more like a meal.

The 10 Most Salad-Curious States, Ranked

10. New Jersey

New Jersey landed in the top 10 overall, but its bigger claim here is gut-health salad curiosity. According to Taylor Farms, New Jersey ranked in the top three for the “Gut Glory” category, which includes searches for ingredients like kimchi, sauerkraut, chickpeas, and kefir-based dressings.

That tracks with the broader trend toward salads that are doing more than just pretending to be virtuous. These are bowls with probiotics, fiber, and enough punchy ingredients to keep lunch from feeling like punishment.

9. Maine

Maine also made the top 10 for overall salad curiosity, which is a fun little curveball in a list otherwise heavy on Pacific and Mid-Atlantic states.

Taylor Farms’ study looked at ingredient searches across all five flavor profiles, so Maine’s spot suggests residents are searching across more than one salad lane. Think less plain greens, more interest in toppings, texture, and functional ingredients.

8. Nevada

Nevada showed up in the top 10 overall and also ranked near the top for gut-health-focused salad searches.

Taylor Farms said Nevada joined Maryland and New Jersey in the top three for the Gut Glory category, which included probiotic and fiber-forward ingredients like kimchi, sauerkraut, chickpeas, and kefir-based dressings.

7. Massachusetts

Massachusetts ranked seventh overall in the Salad Curiosity Census.

The study did not break out every state’s exact winning profile in the summary provided, but Massachusetts’ top-10 finish means it had strong population-adjusted search interest across the salad ingredients Taylor Farms tracked. That included categories built around protein, crunch, gut health, sweet-spicy-tangy flavors, and updated retro salads.

6. Virginia

Virginia ranked sixth overall, but it stood out most in the Powerhouse Protein category.

Taylor Farms said Virginia was the top state for protein-driven salad curiosity, followed by Illinois and Hawaii. This category includes bowls built around ingredients like hard-boiled eggs, grilled steak, quinoa, and lentils.

In other words, Virginia seems less interested in side-salad energy and more interested in the kind of salad that can actually hold you over until dinner.

5. Maryland

Maryland rounded out the top five and was one of the biggest players in the gut-health category.

The state ranked in the top three for Gut Glory, the trend focused on probiotic and fiber-rich ingredients like kimchi, sauerkraut, chickpeas, and kefir-based dressings. Taylor Farms noted that East Coast states were especially strong in this category.

4. Illinois

Illinois ranked fourth overall and was especially strong in Powerhouse Protein.

Taylor Farms said Illinois was one of the top three states searching for protein-focused salad ingredients such as hard-boiled eggs, grilled steak, quinoa, and lentils. That makes sense for anyone who wants a salad that feels closer to a real meal than a plate of garnish.

3. Oregon

Oregon took the No. 3 spot overall and ranked first for Crunch Core.

That category focuses on texture-heavy ingredients like toasted nuts, jicama, crispy shallots, and snap peas. Taylor Farms said Oregon logged nearly 5,500 monthly searches for crunch-forward salad ingredients.

Oregon also performed well in the Swicy & Swangy and Newstalgia categories, putting it firmly in the camp of states that are not just adding croutons and calling it a day.

2. Washington

Washington came in second overall with a salad curiosity score of 22.54.

The Pacific Northwest performed especially well across several trends, including Swicy & Swangy, Crunch Core, and Newstalgia. Washington also ranked among the top states for updated retro salads, the kind that rework classics like the Waldorf and wedge with more modern ingredients.

1. Hawaii

Hawaii ranked No. 1 overall with a salad curiosity score of 27.48, making it the most salad-curious state in the country, according to Taylor Farms.

The state logged roughly 40,000 monthly searches for ingredients such as hot honey dressings and crispy spicy chickpeas. It also ranked first for Swicy & Swangy, with more than 6,000 monthly searches for sweet-spicy-tangy ingredients, and led several of the five profiles studied.

That makes Hawaii the clear standout here. The data suggests people there are not just looking up one trendy topping. They are searching across bold flavors, texture, protein, and retro-inspired salad ideas, which is frankly a lot more exciting than another sad desk salad.

The ranking also shows how much food preferences can vary by state, especially as people balance wellness trends with wanting meals that actually sound good. That same tension showed up in another recent food survey, where many Americans said they’re tired of being told what to eat.

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