USDA Posts Latest Vegetable Market Report

By Growing Produce Staff|April 7, 2010

The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the spring quarter is forecast at 199,100 acres, up 1% from last year. Acreage increases for snap beans, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet corn, and cucumbers more than offset acreage declines for broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Celery and head lettuce area remains unchanged. Melon acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 74,050 acres, up 6% from last year.

Honeydew and watermelon acreages are up 5%, and 14%, respectively, from 2009. Cantaloup acreage is down 5% from last year. Asparagus area for spring harvest is forecast at 28,300 acres, down 3% from last year. Strawberry area for harvest is forecast at 48,300 acres, down 4% from a year ago.

Processors expect to contract 1.11 million acres of the 5 major processed vegetable crops in the U.S. for 2010, down 9% from last year. Contracted acreage declines are forecast for sweet corn, cucumbers for pickles, green peas, and tomatoes, while snap beans show a slight increase. Freezing firms expect to contract 347,700 acres, down 9% from last year. Acreage for sweet corn and green peas are down 13%, and 10%, respectively. Snap bean acreage is up 13% from last year. Canneries contracted for 764,550 acres, down 10% from 2009. Acreage declined for all 5 major processed vegetable crops. Acreage for snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers for pickles, green peas, and tomatoes is down 4%, 12%, 5%, 20%, and 9%, respectively, from last year.

Total planted onion area for all seasons in 2010 is forecast at 154,010 acres, down 2% from last year. Spring onions are expected to be harvested from 25,900 acres in 2010, down 5% from 2009. Georgia and Texas combined production is forecast at 5.12 million cwt, 7% below last year. Summer non-storage onion planted area, at 18,200 acres, is up 2% from a year ago. Total summer onion area, at 125,810 acres, is down 1% from the previous year.

To see the entire report, click here.