January 9, 2008

**FLORIDA**

**W[eather]{.smallcaps}:** A low pressure system during early
**October** brought ample rains to several areas across the State.
Scattered thunderstorms hampered field activities in central and
southern Peninsula areas. Several vegetable growers were experiencing
extreme white fly infestation in fields across the Panhandle due to the
dry weather. Vegetable growers had not been able to control the severe
infestations with pesticides because of the very large populations. Okra
harvesting remained active in Dade County. Cabbage planting began
although field work was slowed due to heavy rains in Flagler County.
Growers in St. Johns County continued to plant broccoli and cabbage.
Tomato harvesting was active around Quincy. Light harvesting of pickles
and squash also began during the first week of the month. By mid-month,
dry conditions allowed ground preparations and planting to stay very
active. In St. Johns County, fall cabbage planting was progressing as
fields dried out from earlier storms. In Hillsborough County, strawberry
transplanting was active. In Hendry County, the cooler, drier weather
favored vegetable crop growth and development with armyworms affecting
some crops. Snap bean, eggplant, pepper and squash harvesting got
underway. By the end of October, heavy rainfall slowed the harvesting of
tomatoes in the Quincy area. In the Suwannee Valley, the quality of
beans improved slightly, but the heavy rains lowered prospects. Bean
yields were reported as being below normal. The watermelon crop was in
fair condition with cutting active. Cucumber and pepper quality improved
significantly with harvesting underway. The planting of strawberries and
the harvesting of squash were active. In the southwest region of the
State, crops were looking good; however, higher than normal temperatures
were causing early maturation in some crops. Growers started to harvest
some early cucumbers and specialty crops. The tomato and pepper harvest
also started. Potato planting began. St Johns, Flagler, and Putnam
counties continued squash and cucumber harvest. The planting of cabbage
and mixed greens was active with some field work slowed by rain. In
Plant City and Dover, the transplanting of strawberry plants continued
with farmers irrigating recent sets due to extremely dry conditions.
Strawberry planting and bell pepper picking were active.

**N[ovember: ]{.smallcaps}**Tropical Storm Noel interrupted some field
work in southern Peninsula localities due to high, gusty winds and
rains. Strong winds in Sumter County caused some damage to squash.
Harvesting of most vegetables was underway with windy, wet weather
increasing disease pressure in parts of Hendry County. Harvesting of
tomatoes was active in Gadsden County. There were still reports of
significant white fly population in the Panhandle. Growers continued
planting of strawberries in Palatka. Windy conditions from Noel caused
bloom-drop on some vegetables in Pompano. Despite rains, harvesting
remained on schedule for watermelons, bell peppers, and cucumbers in
Suwannee Valley; green bean yields continued to be low. Harvesting was
off to a slow start in Wauchula with planting of strawberries underway.
Growers in Wauchula finished planting snap beans, bell peppers,
cantaloupes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and harvesting squash. By mid-month,
most harvesting was on schedule as growers marketed their crops to
satisfy the holiday's demand. However, warm weather in Hendry County
accelerated vegetable crop growth disrupting in some instances the
harvest schedule. In St. Johns County, cabbage and broccoli were being
harvested but warm weather caused some size issues. Harvesting of beans,
corn, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers continued in central and south
Florida. Marketing movement increased for endive and escarole in south
Florida. Avocado, squash, beans, and tomatoes looked good in Florida
City. Harvesting of vegetables continued in Immokalee. Broccoli harvest
began on Monday in Palatka with quality and quantity reported as
generally good. The strawberry crop in Plant City was reported in good
condition. Clear weather during the end of the month over most of the
central and southern Peninsula allowed planting and harvesting to stay
on schedule.

**D[ecember: ]{.smallcaps}**Growers continued to plant, harvest, and
irrigate crops. Harvest of the small fall crop of watermelons in the Ft.
Myers area, and picking of yellow-type Roma and globe tomatoes in the
Quincy area was virtually finished. Planting remained on schedule in
central and southern Peninsula with potato planting very active around
Immokalee. Around Palatka, cabbage transplanting continued while squash
harvest wound down. Cabbage heads are finally gaining size. Growers
replanted some cabbage fields earlier due to problems with heading.
Strawberries were in good condition around Plant City and Dover with
picking increasing very slowly. Warm temperatures hindered strawberry
development. Light harvesting of cucumbers and eggplant began around
Pompano. Growers continued to plant, harvest, and irrigate crops.
Harvest of the small fall crop of watermelons in the Ft. Myers area, and
picking of yellow-type Roma and globe tomatoes in the Quincy area were
finished. Planting remained on schedule in central and southern
Peninsula with potato planting very active around Immokalee. Around
Palatka, cabbage transplanting continued while squash harvest wound
down. Cabbage heads were gaining size. Growers replanted some cabbage
fields earlier due to problems with heading. Strawberries were in good
condition around Plant City and Dover with picking increasing very
slowly. Warm temperatures were hindering strawberry development. Light
harvesting of cucumbers and eggplant began around Pompano. By the end of
the month, harvesting and packing of beans, okra, squash and tomatoes
continued in Florida City. Winter crops progressed nicely in Palatka;
harvesting of cabbage and broccoli continued. Potato planting began and
will continue through February. Strawberry plants continued to look good
in Plant City while grape tomatoes neared the end of their fall harvest.
Zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes moved through the
market.

**[Snap Beans]{.smallcaps}:** Florida area for harvest is forecast at
14,000 acres, up 1 percent from last year. Warm, dry weather during
October through December allowed growers to plant the snap bean crop on
schedule.

**[Cabbage]{.smallcaps}:** In Florida, producers expect to harvest 5,000
acres through March, up 200 acres or 4 percent, above last year\'s
revised 4,800 acres harvested. Hot and dry conditions during October
through December delayed some plantings. However, most planting was
finished by the end of the year. Winter area for U.S. harvest is
forecast at 12,900 acres, 36 percent above 2007.

**[Sweet Corn]{.smallcaps}:** Florida harvested area is forecast at
6,400 acres, 9 percent below last year. Favorable conditions during
October, November, and December allowed planting of the sweet corn crop
to proceed on schedule.

**[Bell Peppers]{.smallcaps}:** Winter area for harvest in Florida is
forecast at 5,800 acres, down 5 percent from last year. Mostly dry
conditions from October through December allowed planting to progress on
schedule.

**[Strawberries]{.smallcaps}:** Area expected to be harvested is
forecast at 8,700 acres, up 400 acres or 5 percent, above last year\'s
revised 8,300 acres harvested in Florida. Strawberry area planted for
major States (California, Florida, and Oregon) in 2008 is forecast at
47,000 acres, up 1 percent from 2007.

**[Tomatoes]{.smallcaps}:** Florida winter tomato harvested area is
forecast at 9,100 acres, down 9 percent from 2007. Growers were able to
keep planting on schedule due to mostly mild weather conditions.

**UNITED STATES**

The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables
during the winter quarter is forecast at 173,700 acres, down 3 percent
from last year. Acreage declined for broccoli, carrots, cauliflower,
celery, sweet corn, head lettuce, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Acreage
increased for snap beans and cabbage. Area harvested for spinach remains
unchanged.

**[Celery]{.smallcaps}**: The winter celery crop for harvest in
California is forecast at 7,300 acres, down 4 percent from last year.
The crop was in good condition with no pest or disease problems
reported.

**[Head Lettuce]{.smallcaps}**: Area for harvest is forecast at 62,000
acres, down 8 percent from last year. In Arizona, the crop was ahead of
schedule due to above average temperatures until mid-December. However,
below average and freezing temperatures since then resulted in harvest
delays. In California, lettuce fields are in various stages of growth.
Cool temperatures and rainfall delayed plant growth, and freezing
temperatures resulted in some blistering and peeling.

+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Selected     |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Fresh Market    |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Vegetables and  |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Strawberries]   |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Area for        |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Harvest by      |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Crop, State,    |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| and             |        |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Total, Winter   |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Season,         |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| 2006-2007 and   |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Forecasted Area |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| 2008            |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| Selected crops  | Usual  | Winter  |         |   |         | 2008     |
|                 |        | acreage |         |   |         | area     |
| And States      | h      |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 | arvest |         |         |   |         | for      |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         | harvest  |
|                 | period |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         | as       |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         | percent  |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         | of 2007  |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
|                 |        | Ha      |         | F |         |          |
|                 |        | rvested |         | o |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | r |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | h |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | a |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | r |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | v |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | e |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | s |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | t |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | 2 |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | 0 |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | 0 |         |          |
|                 |        |         |         | 8 |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
|                 |        | 2006    | 2007    |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
|                 |        | *Acres* |         |   |         | *        |
|                 |        |         |         |   |         | Percent* |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Snap         |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Beans]          |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | J      | 13,200  | 13,900  |   | 14,000  | 101      |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Cabbage]     |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | J      | 3,900   | 4,800   |   | 5,000   | 104      |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Texas         | D      | 6,700   | 4,700   |   | 7,900   | 168      |
|                 | ec-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Total         |        | 10,600  | 9,500   |   | 12,900  | 136      |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Sweet        |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Corn]           |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | J      | 3,600   | 7,000   |   | 6,400   | 91       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Bell         |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Pepper]{        |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| .smallcaps}**:, |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| ^1/^            |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | J      | 6,100   | 6,100   |   | 5,800   | 95       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Tomatoes]    |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}:** |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | J      | 10,000  | 10,000  |   | 9,100   | 91       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Carrots]     |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > California    | J      | 20,000  | 18,200  |   | 18,000  | 99       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Texas         | D      | 1,200   | 900     |   | 900     | 100      |
|                 | ec-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Total         |        | 21,200  | 19,100  |   | 18,900  | 99       |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Head         |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| Lettuce]        |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Ar            | N      | 47,600  | 45,400  |   | 42,000  | 93       |
| izona\--Western | ov-Apr |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > California    | J      | 20,000  | 22,000  |   | 20,000  | 91       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Total         |        | 67,600  | 67,400  |   | 62,000  | 92       |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Broccoli]    |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| ^1/^            |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > California    | J      | 28,500  | 30,000  |   | 28,500  | 95       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Cauliflower] |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| ^1/^            |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > California    | J      | 8,500   | 8,200   |   | 8,000   | 98       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Celery]      |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| ^1/^            |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > California    | J      | 7,600   | 7,600   |   | 7,300   | 96       |
|                 | an-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[Spinach]     |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| {.smallcaps}**: |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Texas         | D      | 2,200   | 800     |   | 800     | 100      |
|                 | ec-Mar |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **TOTAL OF      |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| CROPS LISTED**  |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       |        | 36,800  | 41,800  |   | 40,300  | 96       |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > United States |        | 179,100 | 179,600 |   | 173,700 | 97       |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| **[St           |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| rawberries]{.sm |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| allcaps}**:^1/^ |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| > Florida       | D      | 7,300   | 8,300   |   | 8,700   | 105      |
|                 | ec-May |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+
| ^1/^ Includes   |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| fresh market    |        |         |         |   |         |          |
| and processing. |        |         |         |   |         |          |
+-----------------+--------+---------+---------+---+---------+----------+