USDA ERS - Vegetable and Melons Outlook

Here is the link to the April 17 USDA ERS outlook report on vegetables and melons. Much detail in the 46 page pdf; from the report:

In 2007, per capita net domestic use (a proxy for consumption) of all vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pulse crops, and mushrooms rose 2 percent to 444 pounds. Among crops experiencing increased use were processing tomatoes, fresh potatoes, fresh onions, and sweet potatoes. However, given the sluggish economy, little change is anticipated in net domestic use of vegetables and melons during 2008. Following a winter season where potato growers harvested 4 percent fewer acres, potato growers expect to harvest 5 percent fewer acres this spring. Although favorable weather has allowed yields to increase 1 percent from a year earlier, spring potato production is expected to decline 4 percent from a year ago. Fresh-market potato prices remain strong, running just below the highs of a year earlier and 20 percent above the average of previous 5 years. Area expected to be planted to summer storage onions is forecast to decline 6 percent in 2008 to 104,050 acres—the lowest storage area since 1992. Given average yields this fall (storage onion yields were record-high in 2007), production of storage onions is expected to be well below a year ago, bringing improved grower prices and revenue this fall.

All vegetables and melons: In 2007, per capita disappearance (also known as net domestic use, a proxy for consumption) of all vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pulse crops, and mushrooms rose 2 percent to 444 pounds. Most of this increase was due to higher processing tomato, fresh potato, and fresh onion disappearance. Given the sluggish economy, little change is anticipated in net domestic use of vegetables and melons during 2008. Fresh vegetables: On a per person basis, net domestic use of fresh-market vegetables (excluding melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses, and mushrooms) rose 2 percent to 155 pounds. Fresh use rose for such crops as onions, sweet corn, celery, cabbage, carrots, pumpkins, and tomatoes, while dropping for squash, bell peppers, broccoli, and cucumbers. In 2008, fresh vegetable use is expected to decline slightly from that of a year earlier.
Melons: Estimated disappearance of all melons totaled a record high 8.5 billion pounds in 2007—the third consecutive annual gain. On a per capita basis, domestic disappearance of the top 3 melon crops increased 2 percent from a year earlier to 28.1 pounds, driven by gains in cantaloup and watermelon use.