On vegetables

The USDA Economic Research Service annual report on vegetables was released on Jan. 25 and can be found in text form here.


Here is a summary graph:

Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2007 totaled 494 million hundredweight, up 2 percent from last year. Harvested area covered 1.94 million acres, virtually unchanged from 2006. Value of the 2007 crop is estimated at 10.9 billion dollars, up 2 percent from a year ago. The three largest crops, in terms of production, are onions, head lettuce, and watermelons, which combined to account for 38 percent of the total production. Head lettuce, tomatoes, and onions claim the highest values, accounting for 32 percent of the total value when combined. For the 24 selected vegetables and melons estimated in 2007, California continues to be the leading fresh market State, accounting for 46 percent of the harvested area, 50 percent of production, and 54 percent of the value.