Vegetables - Fresh market acreage down this spring

Fresh market acreage is down 4% and processing acreage is up 4%. From the USDA's April 3 Vegetable report:


The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the spring quarter is forecast at 194,200 acres, down 4 percent from last year. Acreage declines for snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots,cauliflower, sweet corn, cucumbers, and head lettuce, more than offset acreage increases for bell peppers and tomatoes. Celery area remains unchanged. Melon acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 65,300 acres,down 3 percent from last year. Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon acreages are down 4 percent, 3 percent, and 1 percent, respectively, from 2008. Asparagus area for spring harvest is forecast at 31,000 acres, down 4 percent from last year. Strawberry area for harvest is forecast at 48,900 acres, up 6 percent from a year ago.

Processors expect to contract 1.20 million acres of the 5 major processed vegetable crops in the U.S. for 2009, up 4 percent from last year.Contracted acreage increases are forecast for sweet corn, cucumbers for pickles, and tomatoes, while snap beans and green peas show declines.Freezing firms expect to contract 382,700 acres, down 4 percent from last year. Acreage for snap beans and green peas are down 18 percent and7 percent, respectively. Sweet corn acreage is up 4 percent from last year.Canneries contracted for 820,900 acres, up 8 percent from 2008. Acreage increased for all 5 major processed vegetable crops. Acreage for snap beans,sweet corn, cucumbers for pickles, green peas, and tomatoes is up 1 percent,6 percent, 14 percent, 9 percent, and 10 percent, respectively, from last year.

Total planted onion area for all seasons in 2009 is forecast at155,720 acres, down 3 percent from last year. Spring onions are expected to be harvested from 27,400 acres in 2009, down 4 percent from 2008. Georgia and Texas combined production is forecast at 6.35 million cwt, 4 percent above last year. Summer non-storage onion planted area, at 16,200 acres, is down 19 percent from a year ago. Total summer onion area, at 126,220 acres,is down 3 percent from the previous year.