Vg 1-1 (10-00) Vegetables National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 6, 2000, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Vegetables" call Biz Wallingsford at (202) 720-2157 or Debbie Flippin at (202) 720-3250, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Fresh Vegetables Harvested Acreage Down 5 Percent The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at 177,650 acres, down 5 percent from comparable States in 1999. Acreage reductions for bell peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, head lettuce, and tomatoes more than offset increased acreage of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, snap beans, and sweet corn. Escarole/endive and eggplant acreage were unchanged. Area forecasted for melon harvest is 14,900 acres, down 16 percent from last year. Cantaloup acreage is forecast at 8,900 acres, down 22 percent from 1999. Honeydew acreage is forecast at 5,100 acres, down 4 percent from last fall. Watermelon acreage is forecast at 900 acres, down 10 percent from last year. Summer Storage Onion Production Down 9 Percent Summer storage onion production, including California, is forecast at 50.8 million hundredweight, down 9 percent from last year. Storage onion harvested acres are forecast at 109,370 acres, 10 percent below last year. The California crop is expected to be 36,300 acres, down 7 percent from last year. California production at 16.2 million hundredweight is 5 percent less than 1999. Contents Page Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Fresh Market Vegetables Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fall Season Fresh Market Vegetables Beans, Snap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Broccoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cabbage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cantaloups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Carrots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cauliflower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Celery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Corn, Sweet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cucumbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Eggplant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Escarole/Endive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Honeydews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Lettuce, Head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Peppers, Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tomatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Watermelons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fresh Market Vegetable Comments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Information Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Onions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Onion Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons: Area Harvested by Season, and Crop, Major States, 1998-1999 and Prospective Area 2000 (Domestic Units) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Season :----------------------------------------------------- and : Harvested : For Crop :-----------------------------------: Harvest : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : Winter : 190,050 189,950 193,000 : Spring : 340,800 342,150 328,000 : Summer : 469,300 490,000 445,700 : Fall : Snap Beans : 16,100 19,500 19,900 Broccoli 1/ : 30,500 27,500 28,500 Cabbage : 5,600 6,400 6,700 Carrots : 22,900 23,600 17,900 Cauliflower 1/ : 10,500 10,500 10,800 Celery 1/ : 7,000 6,900 6,400 Sweet Corn : 10,000 8,300 9,700 Cucumbers : 7,600 9,700 8,300 Eggplant : 700 700 700 Escarole/Endive : 650 750 750 Head Lettuce : 35,300 35,400 33,900 Bell Peppers 1/ : 8,700 10,900 8,100 Tomatoes 2/ : 26,300 29,100 26,000 : Total 13 Vegetables 2/ : 181,850 189,250 177,650 : Cantaloups : 9,900 11,400 8,900 Honeydew Melons : 2,900 5,300 5,100 Watermelons : 1,100 1,000 900 : Total 3 Melons : 13,900 17,700 14,900 : Total Fall Crop 2/ : 195,750 206,950 192,550 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes fresh market and processing. 2/ 1999 revised. Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons: Area Harvested by Season, and Crop, Major States, 1998-1999 and Prospective Area 2000 (Metric Units) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Season :----------------------------------------------------- and : Harvested : For Crop :-----------------------------------: Harvest : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Hectares : Winter : 76,910 76,870 78,110 : Spring : 137,920 138,460 132,740 : Summer : 189,920 198,300 180,370 : Fall : Snap Beans : 6,520 7,890 8,050 Broccoli 1/ : 12,340 11,130 11,530 Cabbage : 2,270 2,590 2,710 Carrots : 9,270 9,550 7,240 Cauliflower 1/ : 4,250 4,250 4,370 Celery 1/ : 2,830 2,790 2,590 Sweet Corn : 4,050 3,360 3,930 Cucumbers : 3,080 3,930 3,360 Eggplant : 280 280 280 Escarole/Endive : 260 300 300 Head Lettuce : 14,290 14,330 13,720 Bell Peppers 1/ : 3,520 4,410 3,280 Tomatoes 2/ : 10,640 11,780 10,520 : Total 13 Vegetables 2/ 3/ : 73,590 76,590 71,890 : Cantaloups : 4,010 4,610 3,600 Honeydew Melons : 1,170 2,140 2,060 Watermelons : 450 400 360 : Total 3 Melons : 5,630 7,160 6,030 : Total Fall Crop 2/ 3/ : 79,220 83,750 77,920 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes fresh market and processing. 2/ 1999 revised 3/ Totals may not add due to rounding. Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons: Area Harvested by Crop, State, and Total, Fall Season, 1998-1999 and Prospective Area 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Area : Crop : Usual :--------------------------------: Area for and : Harvest : Harvested : For : Harvest State : Period :---------------------: Harvest :Percent of : : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : ----------- Acres ---------- Percent : : Snap Beans : : FL : Oct-Dec : 7,800 10,500 12,000 114 GA : Oct-Dec : 2,600 4,000 4,000 100 MD 1/ : Oct-Oct : 400 400 NJ : Sep-Nov : 2,600 2,100 2,000 95 SC 1/ : Oct-Dec : 600 600 VA : Sep-Oct : 2,100 1,900 1,900 100 : : Total 2/ : : 16,100 19,500 19,900 108 : : Broccoli 3/ : : CA : Oct-Dec : 30,500 27,500 28,500 104 : : Cabbage : : FL : Oct-Dec : 800 900 900 100 GA : Oct-Dec : 3,000 3,400 3,500 103 NJ : Sep-Nov : 1,000 700 700 100 TX : Sep-Nov : 800 1,400 1,600 114 : : Total : : 5,600 6,400 6,700 105 : : Cantaloups : : AZ : Oct-Nov : 6,400 6,400 5,900 92 CA : Oct-Dec : 3,500 5,000 3,000 60 : : Total : : 9,900 11,400 8,900 78 : : Carrots : : CA : Oct-Dec : 22,500 23,000 17,500 76 TX : Sep-Nov : 400 600 400 67 : : Total : : 22,900 23,600 17,900 76 : : Cauliflower 3/ : : CA : Oct-Dec : 10,500 10,500 10,800 103 : : Celery 3/ : : CA : Oct-Dec : 7,000 6,900 6,400 93 : : Sweet Corn : : CA : Oct-Dec : 4,400 4,500 4,500 100 FL : Oct-Dec : 5,600 3,800 5,200 137 : : Total : : 10,000 8,300 9,700 117 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. --continued Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons: Area Harvested by Crop, State, and Total, Fall Season, 1998-1999 and Prospective Area 2000 (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Area : Crop : Usual :--------------------------------: Area for and : Harvest : Harvested : For : Harvest State : Period :---------------------: Harvest :Percent of : : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : ----------- Acres ---------- Percent : : Cucumbers : : FL : Oct-Dec : 3,500 5,400 4,700 87 SC : Oct-Dec : 800 900 900 100 TX : Sep-Nov : 900 1,200 1,400 117 VA : Sep-Oct : 2,400 2,200 1,300 59 : : Total : : 7,600 9,700 8,300 86 : : Eggplant : : FL : Oct-Dec : 700 700 700 100 : : Escarole/Endive : : FL 4/ : Oct-Dec : 150 350 NJ 4/ : Sep-Nov : 500 400 : : Total : : 650 750 750 100 : : Honeydews : : AZ : Nov-Apr : 1,400 1,400 1,400 100 CA : Oct-Dec : 1,500 3,900 3,700 95 : : Total : : 2,900 5,300 5,100 96 : : Head Lettuce : : AZ - Other : Nov-Apr : 1,000 400 600 150 CA : Oct-Dec : 33,000 34,000 33,000 97 NJ : Sep-Nov : 500 300 300 100 NM 5/ : Oct-Nov : 800 700 : : Total 6/ : : 35,300 35,400 33,900 98 : : Bell Peppers 3/ : : FL : Oct-Dec : 7,500 9,900 7,300 74 TX : Sep-Nov : 1,200 1,000 800 80 : : Total : : 8,700 10,900 8,100 74 : : Tomatoes : : CA : Oct-Dec : 11,000 12,000 10,600 88 FL 7/ : Sep-Dec : 15,300 17,100 15,400 90 : : Total 7/ : : 26,300 29,100 26,000 89 : : Watermelons : : AZ : Oct-Dec : 1,100 1,000 900 90 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Seasonal estimate discontinued. Estimates to be published in the Vegetable 2000 Summary, released January 2001. 2/ Percent calculated excluding MD and SC. 3/ Includes fresh market and processing. 4/ Not published in 2000 to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 5/ Estimate discontinued in 2000. 6/ Percent calculated excluding NM. 7/ 1999 revised. Snap Beans: Fall fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 19,900 acres, up 2 percent from last year and 24 percent more than 1998. Florida's crop is in good condition and is maturing normally. Georgia's rainfall slowed the planting of this year's crop. New Jersey's night temperatures were much lower than normal which slowed the growth of snap beans. Virginia's fall harvest began in September and will continue until frost. Broccoli: California's acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 28,500, 4 percent above last year but 7 percent below 1998. Quality of the crop appears to be good due to cool temperatures which allowed the crop to grow well. Harvest is expected to start in November. Cabbage: Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 6,700 acres, up 5 percent from last year and 20 percent above two years ago. Florida's cabbage is now being planted. Conditions are expected to improve as the weather cools this fall. Georgia's recent rainfall slowed planting. Conditions in New Jersey were favorable and beneficial to the fall cabbage. Texas is experiencing a severe drought, leaving irrigation water in short supply. Cantaloups: Fall cantaloup acreage for harvest is forecast at 8,900 acres, down 22 percent from the previous year and 10 percent below 1998. Arizona experienced above average temperatures during planting and harvesting though it does not appear to have damaged the crop. California experienced a drop in acreage after three years of consecutive acreage increases. Hot temperatures in September are to blame for the increase in maturity and harvest of melons. Carrots: Acreage for fresh market harvest is forecast at 17,900 acres, down 24 percent from last year and 22 percent below 1998. California's carrot crop looks good despite some reports suggesting the crop produced lower yields than normal this year. In Texas, irrigation water is in short supply because of the severe drought. Cauliflower: Acreage for fall harvest in California is forecast at 10,800 acres, up 3 percent from last year and the year before. California's crop is in good condition due to cooler temperatures. Celery: California's fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 6,400 acres, 7 percent below 1999 and down 9 percent from two years ago. Weather has been favorable for the fall crop with no pest or disease problems reported. Sweet Corn: Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 9,700 acres, up 17 percent from last year but 3 percent less than 1998. California's crop had a good start, but erratic weather patterns and occasional reports of worm damage in some areas affected quality. Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene caused no significant damage to Florida's fall acreage. Cucumbers: Acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 8,300 acres, 14 percent below last year but 9 percent above 1998. Florida's growers have just started to plant. Conditions are reported to be good and the crop is on schedule. Irrigation water is in short supply in Texas because of the severe drought. Virginia's rains caused delays in fall planting, therefore, harvesting of cucumbers will continue well into October. Eggplant: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest in Florida is forecast at 700 acres, unchanged from 1999 and 1998. Planting is active with some of the oldest plants starting to bloom. Crop condition is fair to good. Escarole/Endive: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 750 acres, the same as 1999 but 15 percent above 1998. Florida's planting is underway. Below normal temperatures and excessive moisture adversely affected New Jersey's crop. Honeydews: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 5,100 acres, down 4 percent from last year but up 76 percent from 1998. Arizona experienced above average temperatures which have not affected the crop. California's high yields earlier this year discouraged operators from increasing acreage for the fall. Head Lettuce: Acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 33,900 acres, down 4 percent from last year and the year before. Arizona's hot weather does not appear to have damaged their head lettuce crop. In California, Salinas Valley growers are actively picking lettuce. Planting of head lettuce was very limited in New Jersey. Bell Peppers: Fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 8,100 acres, 26 percent less than 1999 and 7 percent less than 1998. Florida's East Coast growers began planting in early August, while Palmetto-Ruskin and Immokalee regions began planting after mid-August. Severe drought conditions in Texas affected growers planting decisions. Tomatoes: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 26,000 acres, 11 percent below last year and 1 percent below 1998. California's fall tomato crop is in good condition and maturing normally. There are no reports of major pest problems. Growers in Florida's southern Peninsula area delayed field work in late August as Hurricane Debby approached but found relief when the storm broke before it hit the State. Watermelons: Arizona acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 900 acres, down 10 percent from 1999 and 18 percent below 1998. Above average temperatures had no influence on harvest and use of irrigation prevented damage to the crop. Onions: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by Season, State, and United States, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area : Yield per Acre Season :----------------------------------------------------------- and : Harvested : For : : : State :-------------------: Harvest : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- Acres ---------- --------- Cwt --------- : Spring : 36,900 37,500 33,800 281 299 331 Summer : Non-Storage : 14,150 14,400 21,500 399 454 432 : Storage : CA 1/ : 32,700 39,000 36,300 440 435 445 CO : 16,000 14,500 11,500 380 375 365 ID : 8,000 7,900 7,400 580 700 630 MI : 4,200 4,000 3,600 260 270 280 MN : 470 420 90 320 280 240 NY : 12,500 12,600 12,900 300 280 360 OH : 520 480 480 310 285 350 OR : Malheur : 12,000 12,900 11,600 510 670 600 Other : 7,500 7,200 6,100 440 500 490 UT : 2,400 2,700 2,400 440 465 460 WA : 17,000 18,000 15,000 500 490 550 WI : 2,000 1,800 2,000 390 380 330 : Total : 115,290 121,500 109,370 434 459 465 : Summer : 129,440 135,900 130,870 430 459 459 : US : 166,340 173,400 164,670 397 424 433 :----------------------------------------------------------- : Production :----------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 :----------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Cwt : Spring : 10,356 11,222 11,200 Summer : Non-Storage : 5,651 6,541 9,290 : Storage : CA 1/ : 14,388 16,965 16,154 CO : 6,080 5,438 4,198 ID : 4,640 5,530 4,662 MI : 1,092 1,080 1,008 MN : 150 118 22 NY : 3,750 3,528 4,644 OH : 161 137 168 OR : Malheur : 6,120 8,643 6,960 Other : 3,300 3,600 2,989 UT : 1,056 1,256 1,104 WA : 8,500 8,820 8,250 WI : 780 684 660 : Total : 50,017 55,799 50,819 : Summer : 55,668 62,340 60,109 : US : 66,024 73,562 71,309 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Primarily for dehydrated and other processing. Summer Storage Onion Production Down 9 Percent Summer storage onion production, including California, is forecast at 50.8 million hundredweight, down 9 percent from last year. Harvested acreage is forecast at 109,370 acres, 10 percent below 1999. California's summer onion crop has progressed well with favorable weather and is reported in good condition. Colorado reports hot and dry conditions during August and September which have resulted in fewer disease problems than usual. Idaho has had some extremely hot weather which has adversely affected yields and the overall bulb size. Michigan's harvest has begun ahead of schedule and is progressing well. Minnesota's harvested onion acreage is down because floods washed out some of the fields. New York's crop looks good overall, however, variable weather throughout the State has left some growers with a good quality crop and others a poorer quality crop. Ohio reports a normal season with no disease or weather-related problems. Oregon experienced some hot temperatures during August which lowered overall yields. The Utah summer has been hot and dry, but the start of harvest may be delayed because of recent rains. Washington's storage onion crop is reported in average to above average condition. Bulb size is running smaller due to summer heat. Wisconsin growers have begun harvesting and many are about half complete. The next "Vegetables" report will be released at 3 p.m. on January 12, 2001. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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