Vg 1-1 (9-08) Vegetables National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 4, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Vegetables" call Debbie Flippin at (202) 720-2157, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Contracted Processing Production Down 2 Percent from Last Year Asparagus Production Down 15 Percent Spring Onion Production Up 8 Percent The 2008 contracted processing vegetable production for the four major processing crops (snap beans, sweet corn, green peas, and tomatoes) is forecast at 16.3 million tons, down 2 percent from last year. Production of processing tomatoes, at 12.1 million tons, is 3 percent below 2007. Snap bean production, at 769,760 tons, is up 2 percent from last year=s production. Sweet corn production, at 2.99 million tons, is up 3 percent from last year, and green pea production, at 426,830 tons, is 2 percent below 2007. Contracted area for harvest of the four major processing vegetable crops, at 1.07 million acres, is 1 percent below 2007. Production of the 2008 asparagus crop is forecast at 952,000 cwt, down 15 percent from 2007. Area harvested, at 32,200 acres, is down 16 percent from last year. Fresh production of 718,000 cwt, declined 22 percent from 2007. Processed production, at 11,700 tons, is up 18 percent from last year. The end-of-season spring onion production estimate, at 11.0 million cwt, is up 8 percent from last year. Area harvested, at 29,000 acres, is down 6 percent from a year ago, while yield, at 379 cwt per acre, is up 49 cwt per acre from 2007. The value of the spring crop is estimated at 266 million dollars, 20 percent below last year. Table of Contents Processing Page By Crops Area and Production...........................................................4 Principal Vegetables by State Beans, Snap...................................................................6 Corn, Sweet...................................................................7 Tomatoes......................................................................8 Processing Crop Comments......................................................9 Asparagus for Fresh Market and Processing....................................10 Crop Comments................................................................12 Onions, Spring...............................................................13 Crop Comments................................................................13 Processing Vegetables: Area Harvested and Production by Crop, United States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted 2008 (Domestic Units) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Harvested :-------------------------------------------------------- Crop : : 2007 : : 2006 :-----------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ :Contract 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : All Processing : Snap Beans : 203,240 202,570 197,900 186,750 Sweet Corn : 384,700 367,600 367,600 379,500 Green Peas 2/ : 200,000 207,400 207,400 212,900 Tomatoes : 299,400 313,600 310,600 292,900 : Total : 1,087,340 1,091,170 1,083,500 1,072,050 : Cucumbers for : Pickles 3/ : 103,000 95,500 83,100 : Total 5 Vegetables : 1,190,340 1,186,670 1,166,600 :-------------------------------------------------------- : Production :-------------------------------------------------------- : : 2007 : : 2006 :-----------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ :Contract 1/ :-------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : All Processing : Snap Beans : 785,950 767,770 751,090 769,760 Sweet Corn : 3,085,550 2,897,430 2,897,430 2,987,960 Green Peas 2/ : 409,850 435,930 435,930 426,830 Tomatoes : 10,611,820 12,659,890 12,542,890 12,113,160 : Total : 14,893,170 16,761,020 16,627,340 16,297,710 : Cucumbers for : Pickles 3/ : 505,190 507,560 451,460 : Total 5 Vegetables : 15,398,360 17,268,580 17,078,800 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes acreage from major brokers. 2/ Carried forward from earlier forecast. 3/ Cucumbers for pickles will be published in the "Vegetables 2008 Summary", released January 2009. Processing Vegetables: Area Harvested and Production by Crop, United States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted 2008 (Metric Units) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Harvested :------------------------------------------------------ Crop : : 2007 : : 2006 :-----------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ :Contract 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Hectares : All Processing : Snap Beans : 82,250 81,980 80,090 75,580 Sweet Corn : 155,680 148,760 148,760 153,580 Green Peas 2/ : 80,940 83,930 83,930 86,160 Tomatoes : 121,160 126,910 125,700 118,530 : Total 3/ : 440,040 441,590 438,480 433,850 : Cucumbers for : Pickles 4/ : 41,680 38,650 33,630 : Total 5 Vegetables 3/ : 481,720 480,230 472,110 :------------------------------------------------------ : Production :------------------------------------------------------ : : 2007 : : 2006 :-----------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ :Contract 1/ :------------------------------------------------------ : Metric Tons : All Processing : Snap Beans : 713,000 696,510 681,370 698,310 Sweet Corn : 2,799,150 2,628,490 2,628,490 2,710,620 Green Peas 2/ : 371,810 395,470 395,470 387,210 Tomatoes : 9,626,830 11,484,800 11,378,660 10,988,820 : Total 3/ : 13,510,790 15,205,260 15,083,990 14,784,960 : Cucumbers for : Pickles 4/ : 458,300 460,450 409,560 : Total 5 Vegetables 3/ : 13,969,080 15,665,710 15,493,550 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes acreage from major brokers. 2/ Carried forward from earlier forecast. 3/ Totals may not add due to rounding. 4/ Cucumbers for pickles will be published in the "Vegetables 2008 Summary", released January 2009. Snap Beans for Processing: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and United States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Harvested :------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : 2007 : : 2006 :---------------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ : Contract 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : FL 2/ : 3,300 IL : 14,800 12,300 11,600 14,100 IN : 5,300 5,000 5,000 6,700 MI : 18,100 22,800 22,800 12,700 MN 2/ : 4,600 NY 2/ : 19,900 OR : 18,800 19,100 19,100 17,500 PA : 10,800 10,800 9,700 10,800 WI : 70,900 69,900 68,600 73,300 : Oth : Sts 3 4 : 41,340 62,670 61,100 47,050 : US : 203,240 202,570 197,900 186,750 :------------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield per Acre : Production :------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : 2007 : : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 :---------------------: 2008 : Total : Total :Contract: Total : : Contract : Contract : : : 1/ : : Total : 1/ : 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : FL 2/ : 3.47 11,460 IL : 3.82 4.65 4.14 56,580 57,140 53,430 58,370 IN : 3.18 3.15 2.28 16,860 15,770 15,770 15,280 MI : 3.65 3.45 4.25 66,030 78,620 78,620 53,980 MN 2/ : 3.55 16,330 NY 2/ : 3.71 73,730 OR : 4.95 6.02 6.40 92,970 115,010 115,010 112,000 PA : 3.01 3.07 3.60 32,480 33,170 29,600 38,880 WI : 4.19 3.79 4.00 297,030 264,910 259,810 293,200 : Oth : Sts 3 4 : 3.36 3.24 3.86 138,810 203,150 198,850 181,720 : US : 3.87 3.79 4.12 785,950 767,770 751,090 769,760 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes acreage from major brokers. 2/ Estimates not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 3/ 2006 - CA, DE, GA, MD, MN, NJ, NC, TX, and VA. 2007 - CA, DE, FL, GA, MD, MN, NJ, NY, NC, TX, and VA. 2008 - CA, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NY, NC, TX, and VA. 4/ Seasonal forecasts for AR and MO are not available. Estimates to be published in the "Vegetables 2008 Summary", released January 2009. Sweet Corn for Processing: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and United States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Area Harvested :-------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : 2007 : : 2006 :-----------------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ : Contract 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres : DE 2/ : 4,600 MD : 6,300 6,300 6,300 6,400 MN : 131,600 120,500 120,500 121,800 NY 2/ : 17,200 OR : 26,000 21,900 21,900 20,500 WA : 79,200 82,500 82,500 82,200 WI : 82,800 83,000 83,000 91,300 : Oth : Sts 3/ : 37,000 53,400 53,400 57,300 : US : 384,700 367,600 367,600 379,500 :---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield per Acre : Production :---------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : 2007 : : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 :-----------------------: 2008 : Total : Total :Contract : Total : : Contract : Contract : : : 1/ : : Total : 1/ : 1/ :---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : DE 2/ : 5.30 24,380 MD : 5.60 8.40 6.50 35,280 52,920 52,920 41,600 MN : 7.33 6.60 6.90 964,710 794,850 794,850 840,420 NY 2/ : 6.70 115,240 OR : 9.58 9.69 9.90 249,160 212,240 212,240 202,950 WA : 10.18 10.36 10.20 806,140 854,310 854,310 838,440 WI : 7.38 6.97 7.10 611,260 578,720 578,720 648,230 : Oth : Sts 3/ : 7.55 7.57 7.27 279,380 404,390 404,390 416,320 : US : 8.02 7.88 7.87 3,085,550 2,897,430 2,897,430 2,987,960 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes acreage from major brokers. 2/ Estimates not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 3/ 2006 - ID, IL, IA, NJ, TN, and VA. 2007 - DE, ID, IL, IA, NJ, NY, PA, TN, and VA. 2008 - DE, ID, IL, IA, NJ, NY, PA, TN, and VA. Tomatoes for Processing: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and United States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted 2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Harvested :--------------------------------------------------------------- State : : 2007 : : 2006 :-------------------------------: 2008 : Total : Total : Contract 1/ : Contract 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : CA : 282,000 296,000 293,000 276,000 IN : 7,800 8,400 8,400 7,800 MI : 3,300 3,300 3,300 2,600 OH : 6,300 5,900 5,900 6,500 : US : 299,400 313,600 310,600 292,900 :------------------------------------------------------------------ : Yield per Acre : Production :------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : : : 2007 : : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 :---------------------: 2008 : Total : Total :Contract: Total : : Contract : Contract : : : 1/ : : Total : 1/ : 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------ : Tons : CA : 35.83 40.82 42.03 10,104,000 12,082,000 11,965,000 11,600,000 IN : 28.91 35.00 30.29 225,500 294,000 294,000 236,260 MI : 35.00 34.00 34.00 115,500 112,200 112,200 88,400 OH : 26.48 29.10 29.00 166,820 171,690 171,690 188,500 : US : 35.44 40.37 41.36 10,611,820 12,659,890 12,542,890 12,113,160 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes acreage from major brokers. Snap Beans: Contracted production of snap beans is forecast at 769,760 tons, up 2 percent from last year. Contracted harvested area is down 6 percent, but yield is up 0.33 tons per acre. In Oregon, harvest was delayed due to cool and wet conditions. Cool temperatures in April and May hindered crop development. The snap bean crop is reported to be in fair to good condition with no disease or insect problems reported. In Michigan, cool, soil temperatures hampered early planted snap beans. However, later plantings emerged in good condition by mid-June. The crop was in full swing by the end of June. Early crop harvest began in mid-July under normal conditions in most areas of the State. Minimal rainfall during August led to many fields being irrigated. In Illinois, planting was delayed due to limited rainfall across the State. In Indiana, the snap bean crop is reported to be in fair to good condition. In Minnesota, field preparation was delayed due to cold and wet conditions in early April. Sweet Corn: Contracted sweet corn production is forecast at 2.99 million tons, up 3 percent from last year. An increase of 3 percent in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a decline in yield of 0.01 ton per acre from 2007. In Minnesota, cold and wet conditions delayed field work in early April. Harvest was 22 percent complete as of August 15. In Washington, conditions have been mostly hot and dry throughout the summer. Water supplies are adequate and the crop is reported to be mostly average to above average. Oregon's harvest was delayed due to unseasonably cool and wet conditions during the growing season. In Maryland, harvest of the sweet corn crop was 71 percent complete as of August 18. Tomatoes: Contracted tomato production is forecast at 12.1 million tons, down 3 percent from last year. A decline of 6 percent in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a yield increase of 0.99 tons per acre. In California, the processed tomato crop was slightly behind schedule. A frost in mid-April caused spotty damage to the crop in some areas of the State. Dry conditions and high winds during spring hampered fruit setting and harvest. However, the condition of the crop is reported to be excellent with no significant insect problems. In Ohio, harvest was 6 percent complete by August 17. 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. Planting was near complete by mid-June. Ample moisture in July caused a setback to plants in some fields. Harvest began in mid-August and the crop progressed well throughout the growing season. Indiana=s processing tomatoes were in fair to good condition despite dry weather during late July into mid-August. Some processors had to irrigate to make up for the lack of rainfall. Asparagus for Fresh Market and Processing: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, Production, and Value by State and United States, 2006-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Planted : Area Harvested State :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : CA : 23,500 20,800 15,000 22,500 20,000 14,500 MI : 12,200 11,700 11,700 11,700 11,200 11,200 WA : 9,000 8,000 7,000 9,000 7,000 6,500 : US : 44,700 40,500 33,700 43,200 38,200 32,200 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield per Acre : Production :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ Cwt ----------- --------- 1,000 Cwt -------- : CA : 23 29 29 518 580 421 MI : 22 21 23 257 235 258 WA : 42 43 42 378 301 273 : US : 27 29 30 1,153 1,116 952 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Value :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Per Cwt : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- Dollars --------- ------- 1,000 Dollars ------ : CA : 118.00 121.00 103.00 61,124 70,180 43,363 MI : 57.80 65.60 71.80 14,866 15,417 18,516 WA : 50.00 59.10 65.40 18,911 17,802 17,859 : US : 82.30 92.70 83.80 94,901 103,399 79,738 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asparagus for Fresh Market and Processing: Production and Value by Utilization, State, and United States, 2006-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Utilization : Production and :----------------------------------------------------------------- State : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Cwt : Fresh Market : CA 1/ : 518 580 421 MI 2/ : 31 WA 2/ : 362 : Oth Sts 3/ : 338 297 : US : 911 918 718 : Tons : Processing : MI 2/ : 11,300 WA 2/ : 800 : Oth Sts 3/ : 9,900 11,700 : US : 12,100 9,900 11,700 : Canning : 8,000 5,900 7,100 : Freezing : 4,100 4,000 4,600 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Value :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Per Unit : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- Dollars per Cwt ------ ------- 1,000 Dollars ------ : Fresh Market : CA 1/ : 118.00 121.00 103.00 61,124 70,180 43,363 MI 2/ : 64.00 1,984 WA 2/ : 49.50 17,919 : Oth Sts 3/ : 61.50 68.90 20,787 20,463 : US : 88.90 99.10 88.90 81,027 90,967 63,826 : : ------- Dollars per Ton ------ ------- 1,000 Dollars ------ Processing : MI 2/ : 1,140.00 12,882 WA 2/ : 1,240.00 992 : Oth Sts 3/ : 1,260.00 1,360.00 12,432 15,912 : US : 1,150.00 1,260.00 1,360.00 13,874 12,432 15,912 : Canning : 1,150.00 1,250.00 1,360.00 9,200 7,392 9,656 : Freezing : 1,140.00 1,260.00 1,360.00 4,674 5,040 6,256 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes a small amount of processing asparagus. 2/ Estimates not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 3/ MI and WA. Asparagus: Production from the 2008 asparagus crop is forecast at 952,000 cwt, down 15 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 32,200 acres, is down 16 percent from 2007. Fresh production of 718,000 cwt, is down 22 percent from a year ago. Processed production, at 11,700 tons, is up 18 percent from 2007. Asparagus for canning, at 7,100 tons, is up 20 percent from last year. Frozen asparagus production of 4,600 tons, is up 15 percent from 2007. Total value of the crop, at 79.7 million dollars, is down 23 percent from 2007. In California, a mostly excellent quality crop was reported throughout the growing season, however, acreage continues to decline due to competition from imports. In Michigan, the asparagus spears emerged in late April. Warm temperatures allowed crop development to proceed ahead of schedule. Harvest began in early May and continued at a slow pace for the remainder of the month due to weather conditions. Purple spots were reported in some fields. Harvest was complete in some areas by mid-June. Onions: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, Production, and Value, Selected States, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area : Yield per Acre Crop :----------------------------------------------------------------- and : Planted : Harvested : : State :-------------------------------------------: 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------------- Acres ---------------- ----- Cwt ---- : Spring 1/ : AZ : 1,200 1,500 1,200 1,500 450 440 CA : 7,600 6,700 7,400 6,500 450 440 GA : 12,500 12,000 12,000 11,500 270 320 TX : 12,500 11,000 10,400 9,500 300 400 : Total : 33,800 31,200 31,000 29,000 330 379 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Production : Value :----------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Per Cwt : Total : 2007 : 2008 :------------------------------------------- : : : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : --- 1,000 Cwt --- ---- Dollars --- 1,000 Dollars : Spring 1/ : AZ : 540 660 12.00 8.30 6,480 5,478 CA : 3,330 2,860 11.00 12.80 36,630 36,608 GA : 3,240 3,680 35.90 29.50 116,316 108,560 TX : 3,120 3,800 56.00 30.30 174,720 115,140 : Total : 10,230 11,000 32.70 24.20 334,146 265,786 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Primarily fresh market. Spring Onions: The end-of-season spring onion production estimate, at 11.0 million cwt, is up 8 percent from last year. Area harvested, at 29,000 acres, is down 6 percent from a year ago, while yield, at 379 cwt per acre, is up 49 cwt per acre from 2007. The value of the spring crop is estimated at 266 million dollars, 20 percent less than last year. In Georgia, rainfall during the winter months was normal to slightly below normal, while rainfall during spring was well below normal. Temperatures were above normal during the winter and near normal during spring. The State experienced drought conditions during most of the summer. However, rainfall in the southern part of the State improved moisture conditions. Harvest got underway by the first week in April, and the crop was rated good to excellent condition throughout the growing season. Yields are reported to be the highest on record. Disease problems have been at a minimum and growers were actively irrigating the spring onion crop. Planting of spring onions in California began in most areas by early November under good conditions. A cool growing season slowed crop growth, and some growers experienced problems with seeders and mildew. However, good quality was reported of the spring onions crop. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. 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