NAICS 424480

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the joint U.S.–Canada–Mexico standard federal statistical agencies use to categorize business establishments for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating economic statistics. NAICS was adopted by the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 to replace the SIC system and is maintained through the Economic Classification Policy Committee; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 424480 designates the six-digit national industry for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers within subsector 4244 (Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers). Establishments in this industry are primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Merchant wholesaling of fresh fruits. ²
• Merchant wholesaling of fresh vegetables. ²
• Placement under Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers in NAICS Sector 42, subsector 4244, for wholesale trade statistics. ³
• Wholesale trade conducted generally without transformation, with incidental marketing services (for example, sorting, packaging, labeling). ⁵
• Merchant wholesalers that take title to goods, distinct from agents and brokers that arrange sales for others. ⁶
• Industry statistics appearing in Census products for Wholesale Trade, including the Economic Census and the transitioned Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS). ⁴

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Where Census reports this industry

• Economic Census (NAICS Sector 42): publishes detailed industry statistics on a 2022 NAICS basis, including Wholesale Trade industries such as 424480. ³
• Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS; transitioned to the Annual Integrated Economic Survey in 2024): produced national estimates by NAICS, with Wholesale Trade totals highlighted; historical AWTS publications reference NAICS sector and industry groupings. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What businesses are classified under NAICS 424480?
  Establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables are classified in NAICS 424480. It is a six-digit national industry within subsector 4244 under Wholesale Trade. ²

• How does NAICS 424480 differ from 424420 and 424410?
  Fresh produce wholesalers fall in 424480; packaged frozen foods are in 424420, and general line grocery wholesalers are in 424410. These are distinct NAICS industries within subsector 4244. ²

• What does “merchant wholesaler” mean in Census programs?
  Merchant wholesalers sell goods on their own account (take title) and typically operate from warehouses; goods are generally sold without transformation, though incidental services may be provided. Agents and brokers who do not take title are classified separately. ⁶

• Where can official statistics for NAICS 424480 be found?
  The Economic Census publishes detailed Wholesale Trade tables by NAICS, including this industry. Historical AWTS releases provide complementary national estimates at the sector and industry-group levels. ³

• Is there a federal PSC that aligns with fresh produce wholesaling?
  For product buys, PSC 8915 “Fruits and Vegetables” is used for fresh produce. PSCs classify products and services for procurement and are distinct from NAICS industry classification. ⁷

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 424480 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses (NAICS background)
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census)
• U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS)
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (PSC)

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses (NAICS adoption and background). https://www.census.gov/about/history/historical-censuses-and-surveys/census-programs-surveys/economic/classifying-businesses.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — LEHD Snapshot Documentation: NAICS 2022 value labels (includes 424480 title). https://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/lehd-snapshot-doc/latest/appendices/value_labels.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2024 notice on transition from AWTS to the Annual Integrated Economic Survey. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census Wholesale FAQs (sector definition and characteristics). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/about/faq/faq-wholesale.html
6. U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey FAQs (merchant wholesalers vs. agents/brokers). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/awts/about/faq.html
7. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (current manual and archives). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual