From the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, Vg1-1(10-01):

Fresh Vegetable Harvested Acreage
Up 4 Percent

The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh-market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at 177,400 acres, up 4 percent from last year. Acreage increased for snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, head lettuce, bell peppers, and tomatoes, while cucumbers showed the only acreage decrease. Cauliflower, eggplant, and escarole/endive acreage were unchanged from a year ago. Area forecasted for melon harvest is 15,100 acres, up 9 percent from last year. Cantaloupe acreage is forecast at 8,900 acres, up 3 percent from 2000. Honeydew acreage is forecast at 5,300 acres, up 23 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 46.4 million hundredweight, down 9 percent from last year. Storage onion harvested acres are forecast at 104,190 acres, 4 percent below 2000. The California crop is expected to be 29,200 acres, down 20 percent from last year. California production, at 12.6 million hundredweight, is 22 percent less than 2000.

Summer storage onion production, including California, is forecast at 46.4 million hundredweight, down 9 percent from last year. Harvested acreage is forecast at 104,190 acres, 4 percent below 2000. California growers reduced acreage as a result of poor prices in 2000. In addition, cold winter weather slowed planting and growth of the crop.

Processing onions did well this year with many yellow and white varieties being harvested between late August and early September. Harvest was complete by late September, with no major problems and good quality reported. In Colorado, scattered thunderstorms dumped damaging hail on some areas along the Front Range, and lightning storms were common throughout most of June and July. Following July, typical summer conditions, with high temperatures early in the day followed by thunderstorms, prevailed throughout the State. Idaho's weather has been warmer than normal and mostly dry during the month of September, providing excellent harvest conditions. However, this warm, dry weather combined with minimal thrip and straw virus, reduced bulb size and yields. Most producers were able to manage their irrigation water supplies for this year's crop.

Michigan's onion crop got off to a cool, wet start, followed by hot, dry weather from July through mid-August. Harvest activity progressed with reasonable yields and good quality. Onions are smaller this year due to hot weather. In Minnesota, after a hot, dry summer, September weather conditions have been cooler with several rain showers. New York harvest was near completion at the end of September. Most onions are still field curing and have not been moved into storage facilities. Growers indicate onion size ranges from small to average, with very few large onions due to extremely dry conditions during the growing season. The Ohio crop is good with no problems reported. Onion harvest is in full swing throughout Oregon. Conditions remain hot and dry, although some parts of the State received precipitation the last week of September. The condition of Utah's onion crop is varied. Some growers have reported an above average crop. However, there were some complaints about damage from frost and strong winds. Washington bulb size is down slightly resulting from cool spring conditions. Onion quality has been good, with a few selected fields experiencing hail damage from June storms. Timely rains in Wisconsin counteracted hot weather to produce average bulb size.