Wild vegetables contribute to improving the diversity and sustainability of vegetable diets in China

Vegetables are vital to human diets, supplying essential micronutrients critical to overall health. Despite this, it remains unclear whether current supply systems effectively ensure equitable access to cultivated vegetables across regions or fully leverage the potential of wild vegetables to diversify diets. Here, we analyzed data from 2,983 supermarkets across 330 cities for cultivated vegetables, alongside a comprehensive database of 2,461 species of wild vegetables, to evaluate the current state of vegetable supply and the potential of wild vegetables to enhance dietary diversity in China. Our analysis revealed that the species richness of cultivated vegetables is relatively low, with markets predominantly offering 52 common species. Wealthier regions exhibited greater diversity in cultivated vegetable offerings, while the availability of common cultivated…