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VEGETABLES
SPRING ACREAGE (April, May, June, July)
                                                              April 8, 2002

    Florida Agricultural Statistics Service   |  1222 Woodward Street
               |  Orlando, Florida 32803   |  407 / 648-6013
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                                  FLORIDA

WEATHER:. Temperatures dipped to freezing and near freezing levels over the
western Panhandle, northern and central Peninsula, and some southern
Peninsula localities during the second week of January. Vegetable producers
irrigated crops as needed for cold protection. The cold weather lightly
singed some lettuce and burned some leaves of young sweet corn in the
Everglades. Gusty winds accompanying the cold temperatures blew sand across
central and southern Peninsula vegetable fields causing some reduction in
quality. Strawberry production dipped slightly in mid-to-late January when
producers lost mature fruit from plants that were iced for protection from
the earlier cold. Most vegetable acreage recovered well when temperatures
soared to record or near record highs during the last half of January.
Vegetable harvesting remained active throughout most of the month. Frequent
showers over the western Panhandle and northern Peninsula eased dry soil
conditions throughout the month. Widespread, soaking rains fell in nearly
all areas except for a few southern Peninsula localities around
mid-January. Soggy fields delayed the picking of some vegetables around
Immokalee after the mid-month showers but boosted the growth of most
vegetables. Potato digging increased in southern Peninsula areas during
late January.

  Dry, warm weather persisted throughout most of February with the danger
of wildfires increasing across the northern and central Peninsula and in a
few western Panhandle localities. Peaches, other low chill cultivars of
fruit trees and azaleas were blooming in northern areas by mid-month.
Northern growers laid plastic for the planting of watermelons. The mostly
clear conditions allowed vegetable planting and harvesting to proceed at
the usual pace. Some southern and southeastern coastal localities received
significant rainfall around mid- month with West Palm Beach recording
almost six inches of rain, and Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Pierce reporting
around two inches from these showers. A storm system from the Gulf of
Mexico brought at least two days of soaking rains to most areas near the
end of the month with precipitation amounts ranging from a third inch to
almost five inches. These rains delayed fieldwork and reduced the quality
of some vegetables in the affected areas. The rains eased the threat of
wildfires in most localities. Cold weather arrived at the end of the month
bringing frost and freezes to the western Panhandle and some northern and
central Peninsula localities.

  Cold, rainy weather during early March brought hard freezes to some
northern areas and dumped from five to nine inches of rain over some Big
Bend localities. The freezing temperatures killed some early watermelon
transplants, singed some cole crops and damaged the tops of potatoes in the
Hastings area with older plants suffering the most harm. Temperatures
warmed by mid month. Mostly light showers kept the danger of wildfires high
during the month, especially over central Peninsula areas. Vegetable
planting and harvesting continued at a normal pace for most of the month.
Temperatures again plunged during late month bringing lows in the 30s to
some Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities and lows in the 40s to
many central Peninsula areas. This cold caused no significant damage to
tomatoes around Quincy but killed some very young watermelon transplants
with producers replanting as needed. Temperatures remained mostly normal
during the last week of the month when daily afternoon storms returned to
some Peninsula localities.

        This report reflects conditions as of April 1 and
        represents acreage for harvest during the spring months of
        April, May, June, and July. Estimated acreage by growing
        region is no longer available.

                               UNITED STATES

  The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables
during the spring quarter is forecast at 220,100 acres, down 1 percent from
last year for comparable commodities. Acreage decreases for broccoli,
cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, and head lettuce more
than offset acreage increases for snap beans, sweet corn, bell peppers, and
tomatoes. Melon acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 84,300 acres,
down 4 percent from last year. Cantaloup, honeydews, and watermelon were
down 4, 3, and 5 percent, respectively.

SNAP BEANS: Acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 24,000 acres, up
2 percent from last year. Florida growers are harvesting the winter acreage
and will soon start on the spring crop. No major problems have been
reported. Land preparation for spring planting in Georgia was active during
the month.

CABBAGE: Acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 10,600 acres, down
5 percent from last year. Florida's short cold weather periods have not
harmed the crop. Georgia growers prepared land for spring planting during
March. New Jersey's mild winter and cold spring were favorable for the
early cabbage crop. Texas weather conditions have fluctuated greatly this
spring. Cabbage in the San Antonio Winter Garden area is showing signs of
freeze damage that occurred during the end of February and the beginning of
March. Rainfall over some areas of central Texas has varied from 81
hundredths of an inch to over one and one-half inches. South Texas has had
continued cool, dry weather with windy conditions causing some farmers to
stop planting.

SWEET CORN: Intended acreage for harvest is forecast at 37,000 acres, up
1 percent from last year's acreage. The California southern desert area had
colder than normal temperatures which will delay harvest this spring.
However, due to ideal growing conditions in central California, the sweet
corn planted for spring harvest is doing very well. A large amount of the
spring harvest in central California is scheduled to occur on time in June.
No pest or disease problems were reported in the central or southern areas.
In Florida, cold temperatures in early January shortened some supplies of
the winter crop. Most acreage escaped damage from the cold temperatures
during March.

CUCUMBERS: Spring harvested acreage is forecast at 4,900 acres, down
6 percent from 2001. In Florida, growers are starting to harvest the spring
crop. No major problems have been reported. Texas cucumbers are off to a
slow start with a later harvest expected due to late snow and cool weather
in the west and lack of rain in some areas of south Texas.

BELL PEPPERS: Acreage for harvest is forecast at 7,500 acres, up 4 percent
from 2001. In Florida, cold temperatures in early January and March,
combined with soaking mid-January rains slowed plant growth and fruit
maturation. Most planting for the spring crop remained on schedule. In
south Texas, rainfall is needed. The San Antonio Winter Garden area shows
signs of freeze damage that occurred during the end of February and the
first week of March.

TOMATOES: Acreage for harvest is forecast at 28,300 acres, up 4 percent
from 2001. In California, cold weather in February and March slowed crop
development. Wet conditions in January slowed field preparation for fresh
market tomatoes in the San Joaquin Valley. Transplanting started in late
February and should continue through early April. No pest or disease
problems have been reported. Florida tomato growing areas were affected by
cold temperatures in early January and March. Mid-January soaking rains
slowed plant growth and fruit maturation.

WATERMELONS: Acreage intended for harvest is forecast at 48,200 acres, down
5 percent from last year. Arizona's spring harvest was generally unaffected
by the winter's several cold snaps throughout the State because many
producers use plastic coverings over the young plants during the early
planting months. The California crop experienced unusually cool
temperatures which slowed the growth of melons. In Florida, cold
temperatures in March caused some replanting of northern Peninsula acreage.
In Texas, melons in the San Antonio Winter Garden area showed signs of
freeze damage that occurred during the end of February and the beginning of
March. Rainfall over some areas of central Texas has varied from 81
hundredths of an inch to over one and one-half inches. Rain is needed in
south Texas.

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SPRING ACREAGE
                                   PAGE 2
                                                              April 8, 2002

    Vegetables for fresh market, prospective acreage for harvest, spring
                                  quarter
                      by States, 2002 with comparisons
                                      Spring acreage           2002 area
    Selected crops      Usual       Harvested         For     for harvest
      and States       harvest                      harvest    as percent
                       period
                                 2000      2001      2002       of 2001

                                           Acres                Percent
 SNAP BEANS:
    Florida            Apr-Jun   15,000    13,000    13,000           100
   Georgia             Apr-Jun    8,200     9,000     9,500           106
   New Jersey          Jun-Jul    1,300     1,500     1,500           100
     Total                       24,500    23,500    24,000           102
 CABBAGE:
    Florida            Apr-Jun    4,000     5,000     5,500           110
   Georgia             Apr-Jun    3,800     4,200     3,400            81
   New Jersey          May-Aug      900     1,000     1,100           110
   Texas               Apr-Jun      600     1,000       600            60
     Total                        9,300    11,200    10,600            95
 SWEET CORN:
    Florida 2/         Apr-Jul   25,800    25,600    26,000           102
   California          Apr-Jun   11,000    11,000    11,000           100
     Total                       36,800    36,600    37,000           101
 CUCUMBERS:
    Florida            Apr-Jun    4,300     3,800     3,500            92
   South Carolina      May-Aug      900     1,100     1,000            91
   Texas               Apr-Jun      400       300       400           133
     Total                        5,600     5,200     4,900            94
 EGGPLANT:
    Florida 1/         Apr-Jun      500       400        --            --
 ESCAROLE/ENDIVE:
    Florida  1/ 3/     Apr-Jun      300        --        --            --
   New Jersey  1/ 3/   May-Aug      400        --        --            --
     Total                          700       700        --            --
 BELL PEPPERS: 2/
    Florida            Apr-Jul    6,600     6,800     7,000           103
   Texas               Apr-Jun      500       400       500           125
     Total                        7,100     7,200     7,500           104
 TOMATOES:
    Florida            Apr-Jul   12,200    16,500    17,000           103
   California          Apr-Jun    7,000     7,500     8,300           111
   South Carolina      May-Jul    3,400     3,200     3,000            94
     Total                       22,600    27,200    28,300           104
 WATERMELON:
    Florida            Apr-Jun   27,000    24,000    23,000            96
   Arizona             May-Jul    6,100     5,500     5,000            91
   California          Apr-Jun    3,000     3,000     3,200           107
   Texas               Apr-Jun   22,000    18,000    17,000            94
     Total                       58,100    50,500    48,200            95
 TOTAL OF CROPS LISTED
    Florida                      95,700    95,100    95,000            99
   United States                165,200   162,500   160,500            99
 TOTAL OF CROPS ESTIMATED
   United States 4/             309,900   312,200   304,400            98
 1/ Seasonal estimate discontinued in 2002.
 2/ Includes fresh market and processing.
 3/ 2001 State data not published to avoid disclosure.
 4/ Total of crops listed plus broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery,
 head lettuce, cantaloups, and honeydew melons.

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