Fresh Vegetables Harvested Acreage Down
2 Percent
The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected
fresh market vegetables during the summer quarter is forecast to be
310,000 acres, down 2 percent from last year. Acreage decreases in
head lettuce, cabbage, sweet corn, snap beans, and tomatoes more than
offset acreage increases in cucumbers, broccoli, and carrots. Cauliflower,
celery, and bell peppers remained the same. Area forecast for melon
harvest is 124,000 acres, up 4 percent from last year. Cantaloupe
acreage is forecast at 44,600 acres, 5 percent above 2003. Honeydew
acreage, at 15,800 acres, is up 12 percent from last year. Watermelon
acreage, at 63,000 acres, is less than 1 percent above a year ago.
Strawberry production in the U.S. is forecast at 21.6 million cwt,
6 percent above comparable States in 2003. Acres harvested, at 43,800
acres, are up 8 percent from last year’s comparable States.
Strawberry yield is forecast at 493 cwt, down 8 cwt from 2003 for
comparable States.
Onion Harvested Acreage Up 5 Percent
Onion Growers expect to harvest 168,050 acres of onions in 2004, up
5 percent from last year. Spring onion growers harvested 35,300 acres,
up 13 percent from last season. Summer, non-storage onion growers
expect to harvest 22,400 acres, up 3 percent from last year. Storage
onion growers plan to harvest 110,350 acres in 2004, up 3 percent
from last season.
Processed Vegetable Contracted Acreage
Down 2 Percent
Vegetable Processors have contracted 1.24 million acres to be planted
to the 5 major vegetable crops (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers
for pickles, green peas, and tomatoes). This acreage is down 2 percent
from last year for comparable States. Acreage increases for cucumbers
for pickles and tomatoes were more than offset by decreases in green
peas, sweet corn, and snap beans from last year’s comparable
States. Green pea contracted production, at 388,890 tons, is down
17 percent from 2003. Contracted tomato production is forecast at
11.5 million tons, up 19 percent from 2003 for comparable States.
