2014 Fall Potato Harvest Estimated To Be Slightly Larger Than 2013

129 billion. That is the number of pounds of commercial vegetables that were produced in the U.S. in 2014, according to the May 1 Vegetables and Pulses Outlook report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Last year, the two leading crops produced were potatoes (44.7 billion pounds) and tomatoes (32.6 billion pounds), which the report states combine to account for 62% of total volume of production.

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The potato harvest in the fall of 2014 is estimated to be 3.3% larger than 2013. According to the report, it is the second-highest production level noticed in the last decade. At 408.3 million hundredweight (cwt) 2014, fall production was responsible for 91.4% of all potatoes harvested in 2014 as compared to 90.9% in 2013.

The increase in fall harvested potatoes offsets an 8.6% (1.4 million cwt) drop in summer production, combines with a 2.1% (0.47 cwt) increase in spring production, and results in 2014 production totaling 446.7 million cwt, up from 434.7 in 2013, the report states. Production gains for fall and spring crops are are the result of yield improvements.

Only summer yields declined, down 11.3% or 41 cwt per acre to 322 cwt. According to the report, year-to-year yields increased in several significant potato-producing states including Colorado (up 6.7%), Idaho (up 2.4%), Maine (up 3.5%), Oregon (up 6.4%), and Washington (up 2.5%).

Click here to read more in the Vegetables and Pulses Outlook.

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Source: USDA-ERS

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