HDR1012000140060409971500VEGETABLES                                             
Vegetables                                                                      
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released April 9, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Vegetables" call Dave Mueller at (202) 720-2157, office hours 7:30 a.m. to  
4:00 p.m. ET.                                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                  Spring Vegetables Down 4 Percent                              
             Processed Vegetable Acreage Down 3 Percent                         
                    Onion Acreage Down 5 Percent                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during  
the spring quarter is forecast at 210,750 acres, down 4 percent from last year. 
Sweet corn, cabbage, and tomatoes had the largest percentage decreases.  Acreage
for spring harvest of 3 selected melons is estimated at 121,300 acres, down     
3 percent from last year.  An acreage increase in cantaloups was offset by a    
decline in watermelon acreage.  Asparagus for spring harvest is forecast at     
72,100 acres, up 2 percent from last year and 5 percent greater than in 1995.   
Strawberry acreage for spring harvest is projected at 30,950 acres, 8 percent   
less than in 1996 and 5 percent less than in 1995.                              
                                                                                
Processors expect to contract 1.35 million acres of the five major vegetable    
crops in the U.S. this year, down 3 percent from last year.  Decreases are      
forecast for snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers for pickles, and tomatoes, with  
tomatoes down 12 percent.  Green pea acreage shows a 17 percent increase        
compared to last year's weather hampered crop.  Freezing firms expect an        
11 percent increase, with 440,620 acres under contract.  Green pea acreage is up
34 percent, snap beans up 1 percent, and sweet corn acreage is off 1 percent.   
Canneries contracted for 905,790 acres, down 9 percent from last year. Tomato   
acreage is down 12 percent, cucumber acreage is off 3 percent, and sweet corn   
acreage is 13 percent less than last year.  Snap bean acreage indicates a       
5 percent decline, and green pea acreage is down 1 percent.                     
                                                                                
Spring Onions will be harvested from 35,600 acres in 1997, down 3 percent from  
last year but unchanged from 1995.  Georgia and Texas combined for a production 
forecast of 5.98 million cwt, 3 percent greater than last year.  Total onion    
acreage for all seasons in 1997 (excluding Nevada) is projected at              
160,160 acres, a  loss of 5 percent from last year.  Summer non-storage onions, 
at 9,600 acres, are off 23 percent;  while storage onions (except California) on
83,860 acres are up 1 percent.  California, with 30,000 acres, is expected to be
down 3 percent.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Vg 1-1 (4-97)a                                                                  
                                                                                
     Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Season,    
            and Crop, Major States, 1995-96 and Prospective Area 1997           
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Area                         
          Season          :-----------------------------------------------------
            and           :             Harvested             :       For       
           Crop           :-----------------------------------:     Harvest     
                          :      1995       :      1996       :      1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Acres                        
                          :                                                     
Winter                    :     179,850           195,950           192,000     
                          :                                                     
Spring                    :                                                     
  Snap Beans              :      19,200            16,700            18,200     
  Broccoli 1/             :      25,500            26,500            26,000     
  Cabbage                 :       8,600             9,400             8,500     
  Carrots                 :      19,000            20,300            19,400     
  Cauliflower 1/          :      11,000            11,300            11,000     
  Celery 1/               :       5,500             5,300             5,100     
  Sweet Corn              :      35,200            39,400            33,900     
  Cucumbers               :      10,400             7,600             7,200     
  Eggplant                :         700               500               500     
  Escarole/Endive         :         950             1,050             1,000     
  Head Lettuce            :      45,400            41,800            43,900     
  Bell Peppers 1/         :       8,700             8,100             7,900     
  Tomatoes                :      30,600            30,600            28,150     
                          :                                                     
Total 13 Vegetables       :     220,750           218,550           210,750     
                          :                                                     
  Cantaloup               :      37,500            39,500            43,800     
  Honeydews               :       7,000             6,200             6,200     
  Watermelon              :      81,100            79,600            71,300     
                          :                                                     
Total 3 Melons            :     125,600           125,300           121,300     
                          :                                                     
Total Spring Crop         :     346,350           343,850           332,050     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
                                                                                
     Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Season,    
            and Crop, Major States, 1995-96 and Prospective Area 1997           
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Area                         
          Season          :-----------------------------------------------------
            and           :             Harvested             :       For       
           Crop           :-----------------------------------:     Harvest     
                          :      1995       :      1996       :      1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                      Hectares                       
                          :                                                     
Winter                    :      72,770            79,290            77,690     
                          :                                                     
Spring                    :                                                     
  Snap Beans              :       7,770             6,760             7,370     
  Broccoli 1/             :      10,320            10,720            10,520     
  Cabbage                 :       3,480             3,800             3,440     
  Carrots                 :       7,690             8,220             7,850     
  Cauliflower 1/          :       4,450             4,570             4,450     
  Celery 1/               :       2,230             2,140             2,060     
  Sweet Corn              :      14,250            15,940            13,720     
  Cucumbers               :       4,210             3,080             2,910     
  Eggplant                :         280               200               200     
  Escarole/Endive         :         380               420               400     
  Head Lettuce            :      18,370            16,920            17,770     
  Bell Peppers 1/         :       3,520             3,280             3,200     
  Tomatoes                :      12,380            12,380            11,390     
                          :                                                     
Total 13 Vegetables       :      89,330            88,430            85,280     
                          :                                                     
  Cantaloup               :      15,180            15,990            17,730     
  Honeydews               :       2,830             2,510             2,510     
  Watermelon              :      32,820            32,210            28,850     
                          :                                                     
Total 3 Melons            :      50,830            50,710            49,090     
                          :                                                     
Total Spring Crop         :     140,160           139,140           134,370     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
                                                                                
      Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Crop,     
       State, and Total, Spring Season, 1995-96 and Prospective Area 1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :              Area              :   1997    
           Crop          :  Usual  :--------------------------------: Area for  
           and           : Harvest :      Harvested      :   For    :  Harvest  
          State          : Period  :---------------------: Harvest  :as Percent 
                         :         :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   :  of 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :  ----------- Acres ----------     Percent  
                         :         :                                            
Snap Beans               :         :                                            
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :   12,000      9,000     12,000       133   
  GA                     : Apr-Jun :    5,000      5,500      3,700        67   
  NJ                     : Jun-Jul :      900      1,000      1,000       100   
  SC                     : May-Aug :    1,300      1,200      1,500       125   
  Total                  :         :   19,200     16,700     18,200       109   
                         :         :                                            
Broccoli 1/              :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :   25,500     26,500     26,000        98   
                         :         :                                            
Cabbage                  :         :                                            
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :    2,000      3,100      3,200       103   
  GA                     : Apr-Jun :    4,000      3,700      3,100        84   
  NJ                     : Jun-Jul :    1,100      1,100      1,100       100   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    1,500      1,500      1,100        73   
  Total                  :         :    8,600      9,400      8,500        90   
                         :         :                                            
Cantaloups               :         :                                            
  AZ                     : Apr-Jun :    8,900      9,500     11,500       121   
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :   16,000     17,000     20,000       118   
  GA                     : Apr-Jun :    2,700      3,500      3,800       109   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    9,900      9,500      8,500        89   
  Total                  :         :   37,500     39,500     43,800       111   
                         :         :                                            
Carrots                  :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :   15,300     17,600     16,800        95   
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :    2,200      1,700      1,900       112   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    1,500      1,000        700        70   
  Total                  :         :   19,000     20,300     19,400        96   
                         :         :                                            
Cauliflower 1/           :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :   11,000     11,300     11,000        97   
                         :         :                                            
Celery 1/                :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :    5,500      5,300      5,100        96   
                         :         :                                            
Sweet Corn               :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :    9,000      9,600      9,500        99   
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :   26,200     29,800     24,400        82   
  Total                  :         :   35,200     39,400     33,900        86   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
                                                                                
          Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested          
                    by Crop, State, and Total, Spring Season,                   
                  1995-96 and Prospective Area 1997 (continued)                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :              Area              :   1997    
           Crop          :  Usual  :--------------------------------: Area for  
           and           : Harvest :      Harvested      :   For    :  Harvest  
          State          : Period  :---------------------: Harvest  :as Percent 
                         :         :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   :  of 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :  ----------- Acres ----------     Percent  
                         :         :                                            
Cucumbers                :         :                                            
  FL                     : Jan-Jun :    8,200      5,700      5,600        98   
  SC                     : May-Aug :    1,200      1,200      1,000        83   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    1,000        700        600        86   
  Total                  :         :   10,400      7,600      7,200        95   
                         :         :                                            
Eggplant                 :         :                                            
  FL                     : Apr-Jul :      700        500        500       100   
                         :         :                                            
Escarole/Endive          :         :                                            
  FL                     : Apr-Jul :      550        650        600        92   
  NJ                     : May-Aug :      400        400        400       100   
  Total                  :         :      950      1,050      1,000        95   
                         :         :                                            
Honeydews                :         :                                            
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :    2,700      3,000      3,600       120   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    4,300      3,200      2,600        81   
  Total                  :         :    7,000      6,200      6,200       100   
                         :         :                                            
Head Lettuce             :         :                                            
  AZ - Other             : Apr-Jun :    1,200      1,100      1,700       155   
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :   42,500     39,000     40,000       103   
  NJ                     : May-Jul :      900        800        800       100   
  NM                     : Apr-Jun :      800        900      1,400       156   
  Total                  :         :   45,400     41,800     43,900       105   
                         :         :                                            
Bell Peppers 1/          :         :                                            
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :    7,800      7,100      7,100       100   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :      900      1,000        800        80   
  Total                  :         :    8,700      8,100      7,900        98   
                         :         :                                            
Tomatoes                 :         :                                            
  AL                     : Jun-Jul :      500        700        650        93   
  AR                     : Jun-Aug :      500        500        600       120   
  CA                     : Apr-Jun :    5,600      6,000      5,700        95   
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :   16,700     15,700     14,400        92   
  SC                     : May-Jul :    3,700      3,800      3,600        95   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :    3,600      3,900      3,200        82   
  Total                  :         :   30,600     30,600     28,150        92   
                         :         :                                            
Watermelons              :         :                                            
  AL                     : Jun-Jul :    2,500      2,900      2,200        76   
  AZ                     : Apr-Jun :    6,500      6,700      7,200       107   
  CA                     : May-Jun :    5,100      6,000      4,900        82   
  FL                     : Apr-Jun :   33,000     34,000     30,000        88   
  TX                     : Apr-Jun :   34,000     30,000     27,000        90   
  Total                  :         :   81,100     79,600     71,300        90   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
                                                                                
         Fresh Market Vegetables:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production        
                       by Crop, Season, and Total, 1995-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :          Area          :Yield per Acre:        Production        
    Crop,    :------------------------------------------------------------------
   Season,   :   Harvested   :  For   :    :    :    :        :        :        
  and State  :---------------:Harvest :1995:1996:1997:  1995  :  1996  :  1997  
             : 1995  : 1996  :  1997  :    :    :    :        :        :        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :-------- Acres --------  ---- Cwt ----   ------- 1,000 Cwt ------ 
             :                                                                  
Asparagus 1/ :                                                                  
  Spring     :                                                                  
    CA       :28,000  29,000   30,200   28   26           784      754          
    MI       :17,000  17,500   17,500   18   17           306      298          
    NJ       :   900     900      900   28   40            25       36          
    WA       :23,000  23,000   23,500   37   36           851      828          
    Total    :68,900  70,400   72,100   29   27         1,966    1,916          
             :                                                                  
Onions       :                                                                  
  Spring 2/  :                                                                  
    AZ 3/    : 1,400   1,900    1,800  480  400           672      760          
    CA 3/    : 7,500   7,200    6,800  440  380         3,300    2,736          
    GA       :12,500  14,700   15,400  190  120  200    2,375    1,764    3,080 
    TX       :14,200  13,000   11,600  265  310  250    3,763    4,030    2,900 
    Total    :35,600  36,800   35,600  284  252  221   10,110    9,290    5,980 
             :                                                                  
Straw-       :                                                                  
 berries 1/  :                                                                  
  Winter     :                                                                  
    FL       : 6,000   6,000    6,100  280  260  300    1,680    1,560    1,830 
             :                                                                  
  Spring     :                                                                  
    CA       :23,600  25,200   22,600  540  540  560   12,960   13,608   12,656 
    MI       : 1,700   1,500    1,500   60   40           102       60          
    NJ       :   450     450      450   34   35            15       16          
    OR       : 5,700   5,200    5,100  105   92           599      478          
    WA       : 1,300   1,300    1,300   80   81           104      105          
    Total    :32,750  33,650   30,950  421  424        13,780   14,267          
             :                                                                  
Major States :                                                                  
 Total       :38,750  39,650   37,050  399  399        15,460   15,827          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
2/  Primarily fresh market.                                                     
3/  First forecast will be published July 10, 1997.                             
                                                                                
                     Onions:  Area Planted by Season, State,                    
                           and United States, 1995-97                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Season          :                Acres                 :    1997     
            and            :--------------------------------------:   as % of   
           State           :    1995    :    1996    :    1997    :    1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           :  ------------- Acres -------------       Percent   
                           :                                                    
Spring 1/                  :   37,300       40,900       36,700          90     
                           :                                                    
Summer 1/                  :                                                    
  Non-storage              :                                                    
    NV 2/                  :    1,900        1,900                              
    NM                     :    9,100        7,200        5,500          76     
    TX                     :    4,000        4,400        3,200          73     
    WA                     :    1,100          900          900         100     
    Total                  :   16,100       14,400        9,600          77     
                           :                                                    
  Storage                  :                                                    
    CO                     :   19,000       19,000       19,000         100     
    ID                     :    8,900        8,800        8,400          95     
    MI                     :    6,500        6,200        6,000          97     
    MN                     :      680          530          600         113     
    NY                     :   12,800       12,300       11,100          90     
    OH                     :      490          500          460          92     
    OR                     :                                                    
      Malheur              :   12,600       12,200       12,200         100     
      West                 :    6,900        6,500        7,600         117     
    UT                     :    2,300        2,200        2,300         105     
    WA                     :   12,800       13,300       14,300         108     
    WI                     :    2,000        1,800        1,900         106     
                           :                                                    
    Subtotal               :   84,970       83,330       83,860         101     
                           :                                                    
    CA 3/                  :   30,500       31,000       30,000          97     
                           :                                                    
    Total                  :  131,570      128,730      123,460          97     
                           :                                                    
  US                       :  168,870      169,630      160,160          95     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Primarily fresh market.                                                     
2/  Estimate to be published in "Vegetables 1997 Summary", in January 1998.     
3/  Primarily Processing.                                                       
Asparagus:  Intended acreage for harvest is estimated at 72,100 acres, up       
            2 percent from 1996.  First cutting in Washington was expected      
about mid-April, normal for the State.  However, growers need more warmer       
weather to help increase production, as the spring conditions have been cooler  
and wetter than normal.  In California, the harvest was active and demand was   
good.  The crop in New Jersey was in good condition and a normal season was     
expected.  The Michigan crop stand and quality were reported as average by most 
growers.                                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Snap Beans:  Acreage for spring harvest is estimated at 18,200  acres, up       
             9 percent from last year.  Although the freeze in January killed a 
large portion of the acreage of the snap bean crop in Florida, producers        
replanted and the warm weather has helped the new crop's development.  The crop 
is in good condition and supplies should be sufficient.  Producers in Georgia   
have experienced favorable growing conditions for their crop.                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Broccoli:  California's acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 26,000 acres, 
           down 2 percent from 1996.  Producers reported that the crop was in   
good shape with no unusual problems.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cabbage:  Intended acreage for spring harvest, estimated at 8,500 acres is a    
          decrease of 10 percent from last year.  The January freeze did not    
harm the cabbage crop in Florida.  Quality and volume of the crop were reported 
as good.  Producers in Georgia also had favorable growing conditions for their  
crop.  In New Jersey, below average temperatures delayed planting by 3 to       
7 days.                                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cantaloups:  Acreage intended for harvest is estimated at 43,800 acres, up      
             11 percent from 1996.  Producers reported favorable growing        
conditions in Georgia.  Mild weather conditions  provided an opportunity for    
California's growers to plant their crop earlier than 1996, and the crop's      
condition is excellent.                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Carrots:  Intended acreage for harvest is estimated at 19,400 acres, down       
          4 percent from last year.  Development of the California crop was     
hindered by cold conditions in January.  However, sufficient moisture and warmth
in early spring allowed the crop to advance in time for the April to June       
harvest.  In Florida, growers reseeded after the January 19 freeze killed       
younger plants.  Fields with older plants sustained only light damage.  All     
fields recovered or developed well during the balmy conditions that followed the
freeze.                                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cauliflower:  California's acreage for spring harvest is estimated at           
              11,000 acres, down 3 percent from 1996.  The warm February helped 
much of the scheduled crop to mature and be ready for the April-June harvest.   
The crop was reported to be of good quality.                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Celery:  California's acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 5,100 acres,    
         down 4 percent from last year.  The large amount of rainfall in January
hampered growing conditions.  Warm and dry weather during February and early    
March improved crop conditions and prospects.                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sweet Corn:  Intended acreage for harvest is estimated at 33,900 acres, down    
             14 percent from 1996.  The freeze on January 19 in Florida killed  
all spring crop acreage in the Southwest, and burned leaves in some fields in   
the East Coast region.  Growers replanted any lost acreage during the balmy     
conditions that followed the freeze.  Heavy rains in the East Coast area        
followed the freeze and hindered germination of some fields.  Everglades and    
southwestern producers were planting steadily by early February.  Zellwood      
growers started planting about mid-February.  Oldest plants in the Zellwood area
were about six inches high by early March.  Planting ended by mid to late March 
in the Everglades and Southwest areas.  The crop appears to be in excellent     
condition.  In California,  the warm and dry weather in February and early March
provided optimum growing conditions for the crop.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cucumbers:  Spring harvested acreage is estimated at 7,200 acres, down          
            5 percent from 1996. Spring crop planting started in Florida's      
Palmetto-Ruskin and Southwest regions during early February.  Planting in the   
Southwest ended in early February and Palmetto-Ruskin growers finished planting 
in late March.  Producers rated the crop condition as good in the Southwest, and
fair to good in the Palmetto-Ruskin area.                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Eggplant:  Florida harvested acreage is estimated at 500 acres, unchanged from  
           1996.  Plants that will be harvested during the spring season look   
good at this time.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
Escarole/Endive:  Intended acreage for spring harvest is estimated at           
                  1,000 acres, down 5 percent from last year.  In Florida,      
supplies remained light through February, but started increasing in early March.
With the spring quarter approaching, harvest volume will remain good with a crop
of good quality.  In New Jersey, planting of escarole started in mid-March.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Honeydew Melons:  Acreage for harvest is forecast at 6,200 acres, unchanged     
                  from last year.  Favorable  late winter conditions contributed
to the excellent condition of the crop in California.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Head Lettuce:  Intended acreage for harvest is forecast at 43,900 acres, up     
               5 percent from last year.  Heavy January rains in California     
delayed preparation of some lettuce fields.  Drier weather in February and March
allowed growers to catch up.  Late field preparation could have an adverse      
effect on yields in some fields.  Planting of spring head lettuce in New Jersey 
started the last week of March.  Lower than normal temperatures delayed planting
by 3-7 days.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Spring Onions:  Producers intend to harvest 35,600 acres down 3 percent from    
                last year.  Georgia's onion production for 1997 is forecast at  
3.08 million cwt, up 75 percent from 1996.  Although planted acreage is down    
3 percent, harvested acreage is expected to be up 5 percent.  The crop is rated 
80 percent good to excellent, and yield is projected to average 200 cwt per     
acre.  Texas production is forecast at 2.9 million cwt, down 28 percent from    
last year.  Harvested acreage in Texas was off 11 percent from 1996, and yield  
was projected at 250 cwt per acre, 60 cwt per acre less than a year ago.  In    
California, the crop looked good, but plantings in some coastal areas were      
delayed by wet conditions.                                                      
                                                                                
Summer Onions:  Non-storage acreage (excluding Nevada) is  9,600 acres, down    
                23 percent from last year and 32 percent below 1995.            
Washington's  Walla Walla acreage suffered little winter kill.  Currently,      
conditions indicate a good crop this year.  Acreage in Texas was down with much 
of the acreage decline coming in north Texas.                                   
                                                                                
Storage onions (except California) are intended to be planted on 83,860 acres,  
an increase of 1 percent from last year but 1 percent below 1995.  Wisconsin's  
acreage increased from last year's flood reduced crop.  Growers in Michigan     
decreased acreage due to lack of profitability last year.  Growers in Idaho had 
concerns over low prices and of over production in Washington.  Planting has    
started and conditions are normal.  Some growers in Washington County, Idaho    
reported flooded fields in January and concern for flooding again this spring.  
                                                                                
California farmers expect to plant 30,000 acres of summer onions, mostly for    
processing.  This is a 3 percent decrease from last year.  The crop looked good 
but plantings in some coastal areas were delayed by wet conditions.             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Bell Peppers:  Acreage for harvest is estimated 7,900 acres, down 2 percent     
               from 1996.  Mild weather during the first part of January        
boosted plant growth of young fields in the East Coast and Palmetto-Ruskin      
regions of  Florida.  The freeze on January 19 burned older plants halfway down 
the main stalk with producers making salvage harvests from these fields through 
February.  Young plants escaped significant cold damage.  Most acreage in the   
East Coast area was not affected by the cold temperatures with growers making   
spot resets of a minor amount of young plants killed by the freeze.  Producers  
in the Palmetto-Ruskin and Lithia areas replanted fields killed by the cold with
some acreage recovering well in the balmy conditions that followed.             
Transplanting started about mid-February in Sumter County.  Palmetto-Ruskin and 
East Coast growers finished spring planting by late March.  The crop in the East
Coast is rated in good condition, while producers in the Palmetto-Ruskin area   
rated their crop fair to good.                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Strawberries:  Acreage intended for spring harvest is estimated at 30,950 acres,
               down 8 percent from last year.  There has been no significant    
frost damage to the New Jersey  crop.  Production prospects were generally good.
Excessive rainfall in Oregon caused much root rot in the crop.  Acreage ecreased
as some operators destroyed acres due to the rot, and other operators abandoned 
acreage due to labor availability.  Cool, wet winter conditions in Washington   
caused some flooded fields in December.  Some growers are expecting minor winter
damage, with root rot and increased weed pressure.  However, if dry, warm       
conditions prevail through the spring, it could be a very good year.  The       
Michigan crop was near normal though producers reported some winter injury and  
deer damage.  Florida's winter crop was rated as very good with both acreage and
yield up.  It was forecast that the season would end about two weeks earlier    
than last year due to the warm favorable weather.  The  season has progressed   
very favorably this year.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tomatoes:  Intended acreage for harvest is forecast at 28,150 acres, down       
           8 percent from 1996.  Freezing temperatures on January               
19 significantly damaged most plantings in Florida.  Growers made spot resets   
for those plants completely killed by the cold.  Nearly ideal weather from late 
January through March helped plants damaged by the January cold to recover      
completely.  Transplanting was finished in Dade County during early January; in 
the Southwest area, in late February; and in the Palmetto-Ruskin and East coast 
regions, by mid-March.  Growers began picking of the freeze damaged acreage in  
late March and early April.  Producers in the Southwest, East Coast and Dade    
County areas rated their crops in good condition.  In Palmetto-Ruskin, the crop 
condition rated fair to good.   Between 80 and 85 percent of the crop was       
planted in the Quincy area.  In California, the dry, warm weather in February   
and March enhanced  growing conditions.  Producers had thinned and weeded their 
crop, and treated the crop to control aphids.                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Watermelons:  Acreage intended for harvest is estimated at 71,300 acres, down   
              10 percent from last year.  The early crop in Florida was killed  
in many areas by the January 19 freeze.  The lost acreage was replanted.  The   
warm weather in February and March  helped the development of the crop.  Harvest
should start in mid-April.  The soil moisture for Alabama toward the end of     
February was rated mostly adequate to surplus.  Several producers reported they 
will not  plant watermelons this year, since they are getting out of farming all
together or are unable to find labor.  Last year, several producers turned to   
watermelons when their peach crop froze out.  These producers will stick with   
peaches this year since the prospects for that crop look good.  In California,  
the condition of the crop was reported as good.                                 
                                                                                
          Processing Vegetables:  Prospective Plantings and Production          
            by Crop and Expected Utilization, United States, 1995-97            
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
    Utilization   :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
        and       :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
       Crop       :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :-------------------- Acres --------------------     Percent  
                  :                                                             
All Processing    :                                                             
  Snap Beans      :   227,140     211,230     204,830      197,550        96    
  Sweet Corn      :   531,410     492,000     490,400      453,500        92    
  Cucumbers for   :                                                             
   Pickles        :   122,410     109,940      95,790       92,800        97    
  Green Peas      :   320,300     259,000     259,000      302,200       117    
  Tomatoes        :   359,480     345,370     341,970      300,360        88    
  Total           : 1,560,740   1,417,540   1,391,990    1,346,410        97    
                  :                                                             
Canning           :                                                             
  Snap Beans      :   160,540     149,090     144,990      137,130        95    
  Sweet Corn      :   320,890     286,600     285,000      249,300        87    
  Green Peas      :   140,220     127,200     127,200      126,200        99    
                  :                                                             
Freezing          :                                                             
  Snap Beans      :    66,600      62,140      59,840       60,420       101    
  Sweet Corn      :   210,520     205,400     205,400      204,200        99    
  Green Peas      :   180,080     131,800     131,800      176,000       134    
                  :-------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                   Production                    :           
                  :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
                  :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
                  :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
                  :-------------------------------------------------------------
                  :--------------------- Tons --------------------     Percent  
                  :                                                             
Tomatoes          :11,286,040  11,408,740  11,277,810   10,278,000        91    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
                                                                                
          Processing Vegetables:  Prospective Plantings and Production          
            by Crop and Expected Utilization, United States, 1995-97            
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                       Area Planted                        
     Utilization    :-----------------------------------------------------------
         and        :              :            1996             :     1997     
        Crop        :     1995     :-----------------------------:   Contract   
                    :    Total     :    Total     : Contract 1/  :Intentions 1/ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                         Hectares                          
                    :                                                           
All Processing      :                                                           
  Snap Beans        :      91,920         85,480         82,890        79,950   
  Sweet Corn        :     215,060        199,110        198,460       183,530   
  Cucumbers for     :                                                           
   Pickles          :      49,540         44,490         38,770        37,560   
  Green Peas        :     129,620        104,810        104,810       122,300   
  Tomatoes          :     145,480        139,770        138,390       121,550   
  Total             :     631,620        573,660        563,320       544,880   
                    :                                                           
Canning 2/          :                                                           
  Snap Beans        :      64,970         60,340         58,680        55,500   
  Sweet Corn        :     129,860        115,980        115,340       100,890   
  Green Peas        :      56,750         51,480         51,480        51,070   
                    :                                                           
Freezing 2/         :                                                           
  Snap Beans        :      26,950         25,150         24,220        24,450   
  Sweet Corn        :      85,200         83,120         83,120        82,640   
  Green Peas        :      72,880         53,340         53,340        71,230   
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        Production                         
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :              :            1996             :     1997     
                    :     1995     :-----------------------------:   Contract   
                    :    Total     :    Total     : Contract 1/  :Intentions 1/ 
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        Metric Tons                        
                    :                                                           
Tomatoes            :  10,238,520     10,349,830     10,231,060     9,324,040   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  Utilization may not add to total crop because of rounding.                  
            Snap Beans for Processing:  Area Planted and Utilization            
                       by State and United States, 1995-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
       State      :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
        and       :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
    Utilization   :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ------------------- Acres ------------------      Percent  
                  :                                                             
FL                :    1,000                                                    
IL                :   17,700      19,600      16,500       11,400         69    
IN                :    4,400       1,200       1,200        3,200        267    
MI                :   23,000      22,000      22,000       22,000        100    
NY                :   22,300      21,100      21,100       21,300        101    
OR                :   23,600      22,500      22,500       23,700        105    
PA                :    8,500       4,600       4,600        6,200        135    
WI                :   74,400      68,600      67,800       69,800        103    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 2/        :   52,240      51,630      49,130       39,950         81    
                  :                                                             
US                :  227,140     211,230     204,830      197,550         96    
                  :                                                             
Canning           :  160,540     149,090     144,990      137,130         95    
                  :                                                             
Freezing          :   66,600      62,140      59,840       60,420        101    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  1995 - AZ, AR, CA, DE, GA, MD, MN, MO, NJ, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and  
    WA.                                                                         
    1996 - AR, CA, DE, FL, GA, MD, MN, MO, NJ, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, and WA.  
    1997 - AR, CA, DE, FL, GA, MD, MN, MO, NJ, NC, OH, OK, SC,TN, TX, VA, and WA
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Sweet Corn for Processing:  Area Planted and Utilization            
                       by State and United States, 1995-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
       State      :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
        and       :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
    Utilization   :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ------------------- Acres ------------------      Percent  
                  :                                                             
ID                :   15,900      17,700      17,700       15,000         85    
IL                :   29,200      22,900      22,800       16,600         73    
MI                :    5,000       3,900       3,900                            
MN                :  133,900     127,500     127,500      123,500         97    
NY                :   40,300      41,900      41,900       40,300         96    
OR                :   49,400      49,100      49,100       28,700         58    
PA                :    3,100       2,800       2,800        3,200        114    
WA                :   84,700      78,000      78,000       83,300        107    
WI                :  140,400     120,100     118,600      116,000         98    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 2/        :   29,510      28,100      28,100       26,900         96    
                  :                                                             
US                :  531,410     492,000     490,400      453,500         92    
                  :                                                             
Canning           :  320,890     286,600     285,000      249,300         87    
                  :                                                             
Freezing          :  210,520     205,400     205,400      204,200         99    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  1995 - CA, DE, IA, MD, NJ, OH, and VA.                                      
    1996 - DE, IA, MD, NJ, and OH.                                              
    1997 - DE, IN, IA, MD, NJ, and TN.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                  Cucumbers for Pickles:  Area Planted by State                 
                           and United States, 1995-97                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
                  :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
       State      :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
                  :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ------------------ Acres ------------------       Percent  
                  :                                                             
CA                :    5,300       6,300      6,100        5,000          82    
CO                :      950         900        900          850          94    
FL                :    6,000       6,500      3,600        2,800          78    
IN                :    2,800       2,400      2,400        1,800          75    
MI                :   28,000      28,000     24,000       25,000         104    
NC                :   18,800      14,100     14,100       11,500          82    
OH 2/             :    3,000       3,200      3,200        3,000          94    
SC                :    7,000       5,000      4,900        4,500          92    
TX                :   13,000      11,600      8,600       10,500         122    
WI                :    6,200       5,000      4,200        3,500          83    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 3/        :   31,360      26,940     23,790       25,200         106    
                  :                                                             
US                :  122,410     109,940     95,790       92,800          97    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  1996 revised.                                                               
3/  1995 - AL, AZ, AR, DE, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY,  OR, VA, and 
    WA.                                                                         
    1996 - AL, AR, DE, GA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OR, VA, and WA.      
    1997 - AL, AR, DE, GA, LA, MD, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OR, VA, and WA.          
                                                                                
            Green Peas for Processing:  Area Planted and Utilization            
                       by State and United States, 1995-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
       State      :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
        and       :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
    Utilization   :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ------------------- Acres ------------------      Percent  
                  :                                                             
MN                :   92,900      82,900      82,900       81,000         98    
NY                :   18,400      15,100      15,100       26,100        173    
OR                :   36,600      22,400      22,400       29,400        131    
WA                :   59,200      43,500      43,500       65,600        151    
WI                :   68,200      57,800      57,800       64,500        112    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 2/        :   45,000      37,300      37,300       35,600         95    
                  :                                                             
US                :  320,300     259,000     259,000      302,200        117    
                  :                                                             
Canning           :  140,220     127,200     127,200      126,200         99    
                  :                                                             
Freezing          :  180,080     131,800     131,800      176,000        134    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  1995 - CA, DE, ID, IL, IA, ME, MD, MI, NJ, and PA.                          
    1996 - CA, DE, ID, IL, IA, ME, MD, MI, NJ, PA, and TN.                      
    1997 - CA, DE, ID, IL, IA, ME, MD, MI, NJ, and PA.                          
                                                                                
              Tomatoes for Processing:  Area Planted and Production             
                       by State and United States, 1995-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                  Area Planted                   :           
                  :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
       State      :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
                  :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :-------------------- Acres --------------------     Percent  
                  :                                                             
CA                :   331,000     318,000     315,000      276,000        88    
CO                :       220         220         220          160        73    
IN                :     6,900       6,600       6,600        7,300       111    
MI                :     4,600       4,600       4,400        3,700        84    
OH                :    11,000      10,900      10,800        9,400        87    
PA                :     1,500       1,100       1,100        1,400       127    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 2/        :     4,260       3,950       3,850        2,400        62    
                  :                                                             
US                :   359,480     345,370     341,970      300,360        88    
                  :                                                             
                  :-------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                   Production                    :           
                  :-------------------------------------------------: Contract  
                  :           :         1996          :    1997     :  1997 as  
                  :   1995    :-----------------------:  Contract   : % of 1996 
                  :   Total   :   Total   :Contract 1/:Intentions 1/:           
                  :-------------------------------------------------------------
CA                :10,606,820  10,660,780  10,540,000    9,600,000        91    
CO                :     1,840       3,900       3,900        3,200        82    
IN                :   157,450     180,480     180,480      186,400       103    
MI                :   135,000     143,000     138,600      126,000        91    
OH                :   269,670     307,650     304,750      265,100        87    
PA                :    36,600      22,300      22,300       35,500       159    
                  :                                                             
Oth Sts 2/        :    78,660      90,630      87,780       61,800        70    
                  :                                                             
US                :11,286,040  11,408,740  11,277,810   10,278,000        91    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acreage from major brokers.                                        
2/  1995-96 - DE, IL, MD, NJ, NY, TX, and VA.                                   
    1997 - DE, IL, MD, NJ, NY, and VA.                                          
Growers of vegetables for processing intend to plant 1.35 million acres in 1997,
down 3 percent from 1996. Acreage for freezing at 440,620 acres, is up          
11 percent; while acreage for canning, estimated at 905,790 acres is down       
9 percent.                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Snap Beans:  Processors contracted to plant 197,550 acres of snap beans,        
             4 percent less than last year.  Contracted for freezing, at        
60,420 acres, was 1 percent greater than last year's total, while contracted    
acreage for canning, at 137,130 acres, is 5 percent less than the 1996 total.   
Although acreage was up or unchanged in 6 of the 7 major states, a 31 percent   
drop in Illinois, and a 19 percent drop in Other States lead to a 4 percent     
decline.  Acreage in Indiana more than doubled compared to last year's rain     
hampered crop.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sweet Corn:  Contract intentions call for 453,500 acres of sweet corn in 1997,  
             off 8 percent from last year.  Acreage was down or unchanged in all
major states except Pennsylvania and Washington.  There was no reported         
contracted acreage in Michigan at this time.  Many producers there are intending
to plant former vegetable acreage to alternate field crops.  Contracted acreage 
for freezing, at 204,200 acres, was 1 percent less than last year's total, while
contracted for  canning, at 249,300 acres, is 13 percent less than in 1996.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cucumbers for Pickles:  Pickle packers intend to contract 92,800 acres of       
                        cucumbers for pickles, down 3 percent from last year.   
Acreage intentions were down in all major states except Michigan and Texas.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Green Peas:  An estimated 302,200 acres of green peas are to be planted for     
             processing.  This level is 17 percent greater than last year.      
Acreage was above last year in all major states except Minnesota.  Contracted   
acreage for freezing, at 176,000 acres, is 34 percent greater than last year's  
total,  while contracted for canning, at 126,200 acres is 1 percent less than   
the 1996 total.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tomatoes for Canning:  Processors are decreasing tomato acreage by 12 percent   
                       this year in response to year end record high            
inventories. Contracts with growers cover 300,360 acres in 1997.  Tonnage       
contracts covering 10.3 million tons are down 9 percent from last year.         
California production is estimated at 9.6 million tons, the lowest level since  
1993.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                               Index                                            
                            Fresh Market                                        
                                                                                
                                                                          Page  
                                                                                
By Crops                                                                        
  Area ..............................................................      2    
                                                                                
  Harvested Acres of Selected Vegetables, Melons and Dual Purpose Crops         
  Asparagus .........................................................      6    
  Beans, Snap .......................................................      4    
  Broccoli ..........................................................      4    
  Cabbage ...........................................................      4    
  Cantaloups ........................................................      4    
  Carrots ...........................................................      4    
  Cauliflower .......................................................      4    
  Celery ............................................................      4    
  Corn, Sweet .......................................................      4    
  Cucumbers .........................................................      5    
  Eggplant ..........................................................      5    
  Escarole/Endive ...................................................      5    
  Honeydew Melons ...................................................      5    
  Lettuce, Head .....................................................      5    
  Onions, Spring ....................................................      6    
  Peppers, Bell .....................................................      5    
  Strawberries ......................................................      6    
  Tomatoes ..........................................................      5    
  Watermelons .......................................................      5    
                                                                                
  Planted Acres of selected Vegetables                                          
  Onions, Summer and Storage ........................................      7    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                             Processing                                         
By Crops                                                                        
  Area ..............................................................     12    
Principal Vegetables                                                            
  Beans, Snap .......................................................     14    
  Corn, Sweet .......................................................     15    
  Cucumbers for Processing ..........................................     16    
  Peas, Green .......................................................     17    
  Tomatoes ..........................................................     18    
                                                                                
The next "Vegetables" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on July 10, 1997. 
                                                                                
                                                                                
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