October 5, 2007

**FLORIDA**

**[Weather]{.smallcaps}**: Mostly favorable weather allowed field work
to progress on schedule throughout July. Scattered showers during August
interrupted the laying of some plastic and other field preparations.
However, producers also irrigated some acreage in drier localities. Warm
temperatures throughout August accelerated crop growth and development.
By early September hot, dry conditions in caused stress on transplants
in some central Peninsula localities. Vegetable planting was in high
gear in most central and southern Peninsula areas by mid-September. Near
the end of the month, scattered thunderstorms hampered some field
activities in central and southern Peninsula areas. Tomato picking was
slowly increasing around Quincy and getting underway in the southern
Peninsula. Several tomato growers will not be replanting this year due
to low market prices. The harvesting of sweet corn, cucumbers, squash,
tomatoes and watermelon is expected to begin around mid-October.

**[Snap Beans]{.smallcaps}**: Acreage to be picked at 10,300 acres
harvested compared to 4,500 acres harvested in 2006. During August and
September, mostly dry weather allowed land preparations to remain on
schedule. Planting in central and southern areas started in September.
Some growers waited until high soil temperatures cooled to avoid
germination problems.

**[Cabbage]{.smallcaps}**: Growers expect to harvest 900 acres, the same
as last year. Throughout August and September, scattered showers
interrupted some planting over the central and southern Peninsula with
most progress on schedule. Mostly warm temperatures boosted growth and
development. The crop remains in good condition with growers planning to
continue planting through mid-December.

**[Sweet Corn]{.smallcaps}**: Growers expect to harvest 4,200 acres
compared to 1,700 acres harvested a year ago. Most planting stayed on
schedule during August and September over the southern Peninsula with
only minor delays due to rain. Warm and mostly moist conditions
encouraged good germination in virtually all fields.

**[Cucumbers]{.smallcaps}**: Growers expect to pick 3,200 acres down 800
acres from last fall's 4,000 acres harvested. Throughout August and
September, scattered showers delayed some planting over the central and
southern Peninsula with most progress on schedule. Mostly warm
temperatures boosted growth and development but more ample rains are
needed to loosen soils.

**[Bell Peppers]{.smallcaps}**: Producers expect to harvest 4,400 acres
this fall, up 1,500 acres from last year's 2,900 acres. Field work
activities were interrupted by scattered rains during late August and
mid-September. However, dry conditions in southern Peninsula localities
allowed field work to progress with fall harvest expected to begin in
October.

**[Tomatoes]{.smallcaps}**: Producers hope to pick 7,400 acres, down
2,600 acres from last year's 10,000 acres harvested. Picking in the
Quincy area is slowly increasing and getting underway in the southern
Peninsula. Scattered showers in the southern Peninsula areas in August
and September delayed some fall crop planting with most harvesting on
schedule.

**UNITED STATES**

**[General:]{.smallcaps}** The prospective area for harvest of 11
selected fresh market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at
154,300 acres, up 5 percent from last year. Acreage increased from last
year for snap beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, sweet corn, and bell
peppers while acreage declined for broccoli, cucumbers, head lettuce,
and tomatoes. Area harvested for celery remains unchanged.

**[Snap beans:]{.smallcaps}** Fall fresh market area for harvest is
forecast at 19,200 acres, up 47 percent from last year. In Georgia, soil
moisture supplies are mostly short to very short. Drought conditions
that have existed since early spring have been somewhat alleviated by
recent rainfall. In New Jersey, topsoil moisture supplies were short in
August and irrigation was necessary in the South Jersey area. Rainfall
in late August relieved some crop stress. Growing conditions improved in
late September with near normal temperatures. In Virginia, dry
conditions have had an adverse effect on the quality of the crop.

**[Cabbage]{.smallcaps}:** Fresh market area for harvest is forecast at
6,700 acres up 2 percent from last year. Recent rainfall in Georgia has
helped to somewhat alleviate drought conditions that have existed since
early spring. In New Jersey, harvest of the cabbage crop started in
mid-September. The quality of the crop is reported to be good. In Texas,
conditions have been good with few insect problems reported.

**[Sweet Corn:]{.smallcaps}** Fresh market area for harvest is forecast
at 8,300 acres, up 34 percent from last year. The California crop is in
good condition due to favorable weather.

**[Cucumbers:]{.smallcaps}** Area for fall harvest is forecast at 5,500
acres, down 13 percent from 2006. Downy mildew was reported in portions
of South Carolina and Texas. Growers in Virginia have experienced an
extremely dry growing season.

**[Tomatoes]{.smallcaps}:** Fresh market area for fall harvest is
forecast at 17,600 acres, down 16 percent from 2006. In California,
ideal early season weather produced plentiful supplies of fall season
tomatoes. However, cooler than average daytime temperatures in August
slowed ripening in some fields, followed by heat issues in late August.

+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Vegetables for  |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| fresh market,      |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| prospective        |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| acreage for        |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| harvest, Fall      |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| quar               |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ter]{.smallcaps}** |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| **[by States, 2007 |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| with               |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| comparis           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ons]{.smallcaps}** |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+====================+=========+========+===+=========+=========+=========+
| Selected crops     | Usual   | Fall   |   |         |         | 2007    |
|                    |         | a      |   |         |         | area    |
| and States         | harvest | creage |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         | for     |
|                    | period  |        |   |         |         | harvest |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         | as      |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         | percent |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         | of 2006 |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         | Har    |   |         | For     |         |
|                    |         | vested |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         | harvest |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         | 2007    |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         | 2005   |   | 2006    |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         | *      |   |         |         | *P      |
|                    |         | Acres* |   |         |         | ercent* |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Snap            |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| Bea                |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ns]{.smallcaps}**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Oct-Dec | 10,000 |   | 4,500   | 10,300  | 229     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Georgia          | Oct-Dec | 5,100  |   | 5,600   | 5,600   | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > New Jersey       | Sep-Oct | 1,300  |   | 1,200   | 1,500   | 125     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Virginia         | Sep-Oct | 1,800  |   | 1,800   | 1,800   | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 18,200 |   | 13,100  | 19,200  | 147     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Cabba           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ge]{.smallcaps}**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Oct-Dec | 1,000  |   | 900     | 900     | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Georgia          | Oct-Dec | 4,800  |   | 5,100   | 4,900   | 96      |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > New Jersey       | Sep-Nov | 500    |   | 400     | 700     | 175     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Texas            | Sep-Nov | 200    |   | 200     | 200     | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 6,500  |   | 6,600   | 6,700   | 102     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Sweet           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| Co                 |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| rn]{.smallcaps}**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Sep-Dec | 4,800  |   | 1,700   | 4,200   | 247     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > California       | Oct-Dec | 4,200  |   | 4,500   | 4,100   | 91      |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 9,000  |   | 6,200   | 8,300   | 134     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Cucumbe         |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| rs]{.smallcaps}**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Oct-Dec | 4,600  |   | 4,000   | 3,200   | 80      |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > South Carolina   | Oct-Dec | 700    |   | 700     | 700     | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Texas            | Sep-Nov | 400    |   | 700     | 700     | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Virginia         | Sep-Oct | 1,100  |   | 900     | 900     | 100     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 6,800  |   | 6,300   | 5,500   | 87      |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| [**Bell Peppers**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ^                  |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| 1^]{.smallcaps}^/^ |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Oct-Dec | 4,900  |   | 2,900   | 4,400   | 152     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Texas            |         | 500    |   | 100     |         |         |
| >                  |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ^[2]{.smallcaps}/^ |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 5,400  |   | 3,000   | 4,400   | 147     |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **[Tomato          |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| es]{.smallcaps}**: |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      | Sep-Dec | 12,000 | 1 |         | 7,400   | 74      |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > California       | Oct-Dec | 10,000 | 1 |         | 10,200  | 93      |
|                    |         |        | 1 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > Total            |         | 22,000 | 2 |         | 17,600  | 84      |
|                    |         |        | 1 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **TOTAL OF CROPS   |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| LISTED**           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > **Florida**      |         | 37,300 | 2 |         | 30,400  | 127     |
|                    |         |        | 4 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > United States    |         | 67,900 | 5 |         | 61,700  | 110     |
|                    |         |        | 6 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 2 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| **TOTAL OF CROPS   |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ESTIMATED**        |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| > United States    |         | 1      | 1 |         | 169,500 | 103     |
| > ^3/^             |         | 75,500 | 6 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 3 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | , |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 8 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        | 0 |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+
| ^1/^ Includes      |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| fresh market and   |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| processing.        |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ^[2]{.smallcaps}/^ |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| Estimates          |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| discontinued in    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| 2007.^.^           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
|                    |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| ^3/^ Total of      |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| crops listed plus  |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| broccoli,          |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| cantaloupes,       |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| carrots,           |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| cauliflower,       |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| celery, head       |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| lettuce and        |         |        |   |         |         |         |
| honeydew melons.   |         |        |   |         |         |         |
+--------------------+---------+--------+---+---------+---------+---------+