Vegetable Acreage - Pull back

It seems as if the economy - this year or previously - has slowed down planting of vegetables. What's more, local/regional production of some items has cut California lettuce acreage. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report on Vegetables was released today. Find it here.

Here are some select highlights:

The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the summer quarter is forecast to be 282,400 acres, down 6 percent from last year. Acreage declines in snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet corn, head lettuce, and tomatoes more than offset acreage increases in carrots and celery. Cucumbers and bell peppers harvested area remains unchanged. Area forecast for melon harvest is 109,900 acres, down 8 percent from last year. Cantaloup area is forecast at 34,000 acres, 7 percent below 2007. Honeydew area, at 13,000 acres, is down 6 percent from last year. Watermelon area, at 62,900 acres, is 9 percent below a year ago.

Strawberry production in the U.S. is forecast at 24.4 million cwt, virtually unchanged from last year. Area harvested, at 46,600 acres, up 2 percent from 2007. Strawberry yield is forecast at 523 cwt per acre, down 12 cwt from 2007.


Onion growers expect to harvest 148,750 acres of onions in 2008, down 7 percent from last year. Spring onion growers harvested 29,000 acres, down 6 percent from last season. Summer, non-storage onion growers expect to harvest 19,600 acres, down 5 percent from a year ago. Storage onion growers plan to harvest 100,150 acres in 2008, down 7 percent from last season.

TK: The local or home grown deals have had their impact the USDA says: And water is a concern in California.

Head Lettuce: California's area for summer harvest is forecast at 40,000 acres, down 7 percent from last year. Planted acreage is down due to strong competition from regional growing areas. However, adverse weather conditions in the Midwest have shifted more demand to California.



Tomatoes: Fresh market area for summer harvest is forecast at 35,800 acres, down 6 percent from last year. In California, water shortages are a major concern. Early tomatoes have suffered wind damaged on the crown set in many fields. Michigan growers began transplanting throughout May. Early planted tomatoes progressed well by the end of May despite dry soil. Stakes were put in fields during the first week of June. Early plantings began to bloom and set fruit by mid-June. In New Jersey, cold overnight temperatures during May stalled tomato growth. Hot and humid weather by mid-June benefitted plant development.