The
prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables
during the winter quarter is forecast at 181,400 acres. This is
1 percent above 2003 but 1 percent below 2002. Acreage increases
for broccoli, sweet corn, cauliflower, cabbage, head lettuce, and
celery, and more than offset decreases for bell pepper, spinach,
snap beans, tomatoes, and carrots.
Area planted for spring onions, at 35,600 acres, is up 1 percent
from 2003 but 8 percent below 2002. Arizona and Texas increased
planted acreage from 2003, while California decreased and Georgia
remained the same as last year.
Strawberry acreage planted for major States (Florida, Michigan,
and Oregon) in 2004 is forecast at 11,700, down 2 percent from the
same States in 2003.
