HDR1012000140061008961500VEGETABLES                                             
Vegetables                                                                      
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released October 8, 1996, 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.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics,
information about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information  
Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Fresh Vegetables Harvested Acreage Down 3 Percent                       
                                                                                
The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during  
the fall quarter is forecast at 179,900 acres, down 3 percent from  last year   
but up 3 percent from 1994.  Acreage reductions for snap beans, broccoli,       
cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant,  escarole/endive, and tomatoes offset         
increased acreage of cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, head lettuce, and bell       
peppers.  Area estimated for melon harvest is 16,700 acres, up 8 percent from   
last year.  Cantaloup acreage is forecasted at 11,300 acres, up 14 percent from 
1995.  Honeydew acreage, estimated at 4,800 acres, was unchanged from last fall.
Watermelon acreage is forecasted at 600 acres, down 100 acres from last year.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Storage Onion Production down 3 Percent                           
                                                                                
Summer storage onions (excluding California) should be harvested from 80,960    
acres in 1996, down 2 percent from last year.  Production is forecast at 34.1   
million hundredweight, down 3 percent from last year and 4 percent less than in 
1994. The California crop is expected from 31,000 acres, up 2 percent from last 
year and unchanged from 1994.  Production, at 13.6 million hundredweight, was   
8 percent greater than last year and 7 percent more than in 1994.               
                                                                                
        Fresh Vegetables Harvested Acreage Down 3 Percent                       
                                                                                
The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during  
the fall quarter is forecast at 179,900 acres, down 3 percent from  last year   
but up 3 percent from 1994.  Acreage reductions for snap beans, broccoli,       
cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant,  escarole/endive, and tomatoes offset         
increased acreage of cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, head lettuce, and bell       
peppers.  Area estimated for melon harvest is 16,700 acres, up 8 percent from   
last year.  Cantaloup acreage is forecasted at 11,300 acres, up 14 percent from 
1995.  Honeydew acreage is estimated at 4,800 acres was unchanged from last     
fall. Watermelon acreage is forecasted at 600 acres, down 100 acres from last   
year.                                                                           
                                                                                
Snap Beans:  Fall fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 18,600 acres, 
             down 2 percent from the last year and 8 percent less than 1994.    
Favorable weather in Florida allowed harvest to begin in early October.         
Unfavorable weather discouraged producers from planting more acres in Maryland  
and New Jersey.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Broccoli:  California's acreage for fall harvest is estimated at 23,500 acres,  
           down 4 percent from last year but 7 percent greater than in 1994.    
Recent cool temperatures were welcomed by producers after a very hot summer.    
Head sizes were near normal and of good quality. There were no unusual          
harvesting problems reported.                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cabbage:  Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 7,700 acres, up       
          1 percent from last year and 22 percent greater than in 1994. In      
Florida, planting had progressed well with few weather problems reported.       
Favorable growing conditions benefited the crop in New Jersey.  Although water  
shortages reduced acreage in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, producers increased   
acreage in other parts of the state.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cantaloup:  Fall cantaloup acreage for harvest is estimated at 11,300 acres, up 
            14 percent from last year and up 43 percent from 1994. The crop in  
California was in good to excellent condition.                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Carrots:  Acreage for fresh market harvest is forecast at 18,500 acres, a       
          6 percent increase from last year and 19 percent greater than 1994.   
The California crop was developing well with sufficient moisture for continued  
development.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cauliflower:  Acreage for fall harvest in California is estimated at            
              10,300 acres, off 6 percent from last year but 3 percent above two
years ago.  In California, the crop was developing normally with no unusual     
problems.                                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Celery:  California's fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 6,900 acres,      
         unchanged from 1995 but 8 percent less than two years ago.  The quality
of the crop was generally very good, but some color problems were reported.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sweet Corn:  Fresh market acreage for harvest is estimated at 11,000 acres, up  
             12 percent from last year, and 28 percent more than in 1994. In    
Florida, mostly mild weather kept field work and plantings in the Zellwood and  
northern areas on schedule during July, August, and  most of September. Growers 
delayed some field work during early September due to the threat of adverse     
weather caused by the hurricanes. The crop is in mostly good condition with some
Zellwood fields knee to waist high by mid-September. East coast growers started 
limited planting during the last half of September.  Southwestern, Everglades   
and Dade county producers scheduled planting of larger acreage for late         
September and early October.  In California, the crop was in mostly good        
condition.                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cucumbers:  Acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 7,900 acres, a 22 percent   
            decrease from last year and a 25 percent decline from 1994. Florida 
growers in northern and west central localities began planting during August.   
Producers along the southeastern coast started planting in early September.     
Southwestern growers commenced planting about mid-September.  Several growers   
planted on plastic used for vegetables in prior quarters. Some growers are      
delaying planting until receiving funding and will begin planting in October.   
Drought conditions in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas prompted producers to      
reduce acreage.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Eggplant:  Fresh market acreage for fall harvest in Florida is forecast at      
           600 acres, down  400 acres from last year and 200 acres less than    
1994. Planting began before the middle of August in the east coast area of      
Florida and continued at a steady pace. By late September the crop was in very  
good condition with the oldest fields showing blooms.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Escarole/Endive:  Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at          
                  800 acres, down  400 acres from last year but the same as in  
1994.  Planting was well underway by mid-September in the Zellwood area of      
Florida.  Planting in the Everglades was delayed by wet soils during the first  
half of September.  The fall crop in New Jersey was reported as being in good   
condition.                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Honeydews:  Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 4,800 acres,   
            unchanged from last year but 55 percent greater than 1994.  Cooler  
weather in California in early September caused some mildew problems in some    
fields.                                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Head Lettuce:  Acreage for fall harvest is estimated at 37,900 acres, up        
               3 percent from last year and 14 percent larger than in 1994.     
Growers in California welcomed the recent cooler weather.  Although head sizing 
was about average, and weight slightly below average,  the overall quality      
looked good.  In New Jersey, supply was short but the crop quality was good.    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Bell Peppers: Fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 11,800 acres, an 8 percent
              increase from 1995 and up 17 percent from 1994.  Florida plantings
were on schedule with drier than normal September conditions allowing some      
producers to plant acreage in September that normally were planted in October.  
Fruit began to set about mid-September in the oldest fields along the           
southeastern coast, and by late September in southwestern and west central      
localities.  In Texas, some pepper acreage that was not planted in the Rio      
Grande Valley, was planted in the high plains region.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tomatoes:  Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is estimated at 24,400 acres,  
           down 16 percent from last year and 17 percent less than 1994. Dry    
weather in Florida allowed planting and pest control measures to proceed on     
schedule.  Some growers were delaying planting until they received funding.  The
California crop was reported in good condition.                                 
                                                                                
Watermelons: Arizona acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 600 acres, down 100
             acres from 1995. Harvest was active in the central part of the     
state.                                                                          
     Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Season,    
            and Crop, Major States, 1994-95 and Prospective Area 1996           
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Area                         
          Season          :-----------------------------------------------------
            and           :             Harvested             :       For       
           Crop           :-----------------------------------:     Harvest     
                          :      1994       :     1995 1/     :      1996       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Acres                        
                          :                                                     
Winter                    :     196,100           175,000           184,900     
                          :                                                     
Spring                    :     364,750           340,400           343,200     
                          :                                                     
Summer                    :     463,850           459,050           465,400     
                          :                                                     
Fall                      :                                                     
  Snap Beans              :      20,200            19,000            18,600     
  Broccoli 2/             :      22,000            24,500            23,500     
  Cabbage                 :       6,300             7,600             7,700     
  Carrots                 :      15,600            17,400            18,500     
  Cauliflower 2/          :      10,000            11,000            10,300     
  Celery  2/              :       7,500             6,900             6,900     
  Sweet Corn 1/           :       8,600             9,800            11,000     
  Cucumbers               :      10,600            10,100             7,900     
  Eggplant                :         800             1,000               600     
  Escarole/Endive 1/ 2/   :         800             1,200               800     
  Head Lettuce            :      33,200            36,900            37,900     
  Bell Peppers  1/ 2/     :      10,100            10,900            11,800     
  Tomatoes 1/             :      29,300            28,900            24,400     
                          :                                                     
Total 13 Vegetables       :     175,000           185,200           179,900     
                          :                                                     
  Cantaloups              :       7,900             9,900            11,300     
  Honeydew Melons         :       3,100             4,800             4,800     
  Watermelons             :                           700               600     
                          :                                                     
Total Fall Crop           :     186,000           200,600           196,600     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995 revised.                                                               
2/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
     Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Season,    
            and Crop, Major States, 1994-95 and Prospective Area 1996           
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                        Area                         
          Season          :-----------------------------------------------------
            and           :             Harvested             :       For       
           Crop           :-----------------------------------:     Harvest     
                          :      1994       :     1995 1/     :      1996       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                      Hectares                       
                          :                                                     
Winter                    :      79,370            70,810            74,830     
                          :                                                     
Spring                    :     147,620           137,740           138,880     
                          :                                                     
Summer                    :     187,720           185,770           188,340     
                          :                                                     
Fall                      :                                                     
  Snap Beans              :       8,170             7,690             7,530     
  Broccoli 2/             :       8,900             9,910             9,510     
  Cabbage                 :       2,550             3,080             3,120     
  Carrots                 :       6,310             7,040             7,490     
  Cauliflower 2/          :       4,050             4,450             4,170     
  Celery 2/               :       3,040             2,790             2,790     
  Sweet Corn 1/           :       3,480             3,970             4,450     
  Cucumbers               :       4,290             4,090             3,200     
  Eggplant                :         320               400               240     
  Escarole/Endive 1/ 2/   :         320               490               320     
  Head Lettuce            :      13,440            14,930            15,340     
  Bell Peppers 1/ 2/      :       4,090             4,410             4,780     
  Tomatoes 1/             :      11,860            11,700             9,870     
                          :                                                     
Total 13 Vegetables       :      70,820            74,950            72,810     
                          :                                                     
  Cantaloups              :       3,200             4,010             4,570     
  Honeydew Melons         :       1,250             1,940             1,940     
  Watermelons             :                           280               240     
                          :                                                     
Total Fall Crop           :      75,270            81,180            79,560     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995 revised                                                                
2/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
      Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Crop,     
        State, and Total, Fall Season, 1994-95 and Prospective Area 1996        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :              Area              :           
           Crop          :  Usual  :--------------------------------: Area for  
           and           : Harvest :      Harvested      :   For    :  Harvest  
          State          : Period  :---------------------: Harvest  : 1996/1995 
                         :         :   1994   : 1995 1/  :   1996   :           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :  ----------- Acres ----------     Percent  
                         :         :                                            
Snap Beans               :         :                                            
  FL                     : Oct-Dec :    6,600      6,100      6,700       110   
  GA                     : Oct-Dec :    6,500      7,000      6,000        86   
  MD                     : Oct-Nov :      400        400        400       100   
  NJ                     : Aug-Oct :    3,100      2,800      2,600        93   
  SC                     : Oct-Dec :      700        400        600       150   
  VA                     : Sep-Oct :    2,900      2,300      2,300       100   
  Total                  :         :   20,200     19,000     18,600        98   
                         :         :                                            
Broccoli 2/              :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :   22,000     24,500     23,500        96   
                         :         :                                            
Cabbage                  :         :                                            
  FL                     : Oct-Dec :                 900        800        89   
  GA                     : Oct-Dec :    4,000      4,500      4,900       109   
  NJ                     : Sep-Dec :    1,200      1,000      1,100       110   
  TX                     : Aug-Nov :    1,100      1,200        900        75   
  Total                  :         :    6,300      7,600      7,700       101   
                         :         :                                            
Cantaloups               :         :                                            
  AZ                     : Oct-Dec :    5,100      7,100      8,200       115   
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :    2,800      2,800      3,100       111   
  Total                  :         :    7,900      9,900     11,300       114   
                         :         :                                            
Carrots                  :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :   15,000     17,000     18,000       106   
  TX                     : Aug-Nov :      600        400        500       125   
  Total                  :         :   15,600     17,400     18,500       106   
                         :         :                                            
Cauliflower 2/           :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :   10,000     11,000     10,300        94   
                         :         :                                            
Celery 2/                :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :    7,500      6,900      6,900       100   
                         :         :                                            
Sweet Corn               :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :    2,800      3,500      3,300        94   
  FL 1/                  : Sep-Dec :    5,800      6,300      7,700       122   
  Total                  :         :    8,600      9,800     11,000       112   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.                                       --continued
  Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area Harvested by Crop, State,  
      and Total, Fall Season, 1994-95 and Prospective Area 1996 (continued)     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :              Area              :           
           Crop          :  Usual  :--------------------------------: Area for  
           and           : Harvest :      Harvested      :   For    :  Harvest  
          State          : Period  :---------------------: Harvest  : 1996/1995 
                         :         :   1994   : 1995 1/  :   1996   :           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         :  ----------- Acres ----------     Percent  
                         :         :                                            
Cucumbers                :         :                                            
  FL                     : Sep-Dec :    5,000      4,500      3,500        78   
  SC                     : Oct-Dec :    1,000      1,000        800        80   
  TX                     : Aug-Nov :    1,200      1,100        900        82   
  VA                     : Sep-Oct :    3,400      3,500      2,700        77   
  Total                  :         :   10,600     10,100      7,900        78   
                         :         :                                            
Eggplant                 :         :                                            
  FL                     : Oct-Dec :      800      1,000        600        60   
                         :         :                                            
Escarole/Endive 2/       :         :                                            
  FL 1/                  : Oct-Dec :      400        800        400        50   
  NJ                     : Sep-Oct :      400        400        400       100   
  Total                  :         :      800      1,200        800        67   
                         :         :                                            
Honeydews                :         :                                            
  AZ                     : Oct-Dec :      600      1,300      1,000        77   
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :    2,500      3,500      3,800       109   
  Total                  :         :    3,100      4,800      4,800       100   
                         :         :                                            
Head Lettuce             :         :                                            
  AZ - Other             : Oct-Dec :      600      1,200      1,300       108   
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :   30,500     34,000     35,000       103   
  FL 3/                  : Oct-Dec :      300                                   
  NJ                     : Sep-Nov :      800        600        500        83   
  NM                     : Oct-Nov :    1,000      1,100      1,100       100   
  Total                  :         :   33,200     36,900     37,900       103   
                         :         :                                            
Bell Peppers 2/          :         :                                            
  FL 1/                  : Sep-Dec :    6,500      7,200      7,600       106   
  TX                     : Aug-Nov :    3,600      3,700      4,200       114   
  Total                  :         :   10,100     10,900     11,800       108   
                         :         :                                            
Tomatoes                 :         :                                            
  CA                     : Oct-Dec :   10,700     10,900     11,300       104   
  FL 1/                  : Sep-Dec :   18,600     18,000     13,100        73   
  Total                  :         :   29,300     28,900     24,400        84   
                         :         :                                            
Watermelons              :         :                                            
  AZ                     : Sep-Dec :                 700        600        86   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995 revised.                                                               
2/  Includes fresh market and processing.                                       
3/  Estimate discontinued.                                                      
                 Onions:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production                 
                  by Season, State, and United States, 1994-96                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :            Area             :       Yield per Acre        
       Season       :-----------------------------------------------------------
         and        :     Harvested     :   For   :         :         :         
        State       :-------------------: Harvest :  1994   :  1995   :  1996   
                    :  1994   :  1995   :  1996   :         :         :         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ---------- Acres ----------     --------- Cwt ---------   
                    :                                                           
Spring              :  35,400    35,600    36,800     291       284       259   
Summer              :                                                           
  Non-Storage 1/    :  13,400    14,800    12,400     384       407       337   
                    :                                                           
  Storage           :                                                           
    CO              :  17,500    17,800    18,000     350       345       340   
    ID              :   8,600     8,700     8,600     645       630       630   
    MI              :   6,700     6,400     6,000     325       290       330   
    MN              :     760       520       570     411       240       255   
    NY              :  12,400    12,600    11,400     310       320       260   
    OH              :     490       480       490     370       305       325   
    OR              :                                                           
     Malheur        :  12,400    12,300    12,000     595       580       580   
     West           :   6,900     6,800     6,300     420       400       400   
    UT              :   2,000     2,200     2,100     410       440       440   
    WA              :  10,900    12,500    13,000     500       490       490   
    WI              :   1,900     1,900     1,600     340       235       330   
    Subtotal        :  80,550    82,200    80,060     439       428       426   
                    :                                                           
    CA 2/           :  31,000    30,500    31,000     410       415       440   
                    :                                                           
  Summer Total      : 124,950   127,500   123,460     426       422       420   
                    :                                                           
US                  : 160,350   163,100   160,260     396       392       383   
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        Production                         
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :       1994        :       1995        :       1996        
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                         1,000 Cwt                         
                    :                                                           
Spring              :      10,297              10,110               9,518       
Summer              :                                                           
  Non-Storage 1/    :       5,145               6,027               4,176       
                    :                                                           
  Storage           :                                                           
    CO              :       6,125               6,141               6,120       
    ID              :       5,547               5,481               5,418       
    MI              :       2,178               1,856               1,980       
    MN              :         312                 125                 145       
    NY              :       3,844               4,032               2,964       
    OH              :         181                 146                 159       
    OR              :                                                           
     Malheur        :       7,378               7,134               6,960       
     West           :       2,898               2,720               2,520       
    UT              :         820                 968                 924       
    WA              :       5,450               6,125               6,370       
    WI              :         646                 447                 528       
    Subtotal        :      35,379              35,175              34,088       
                    :                                                           
    CA 2/           :      12,710              12,658              13,640       
                    :                                                           
  Summer Total      :      53,234              53,860              51,904       
                    :                                                           
US                  :      63,531              63,970              61,422       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Carried forward from earlier forecast.  1996 excludes Nevada.               
2/  Primarily for processing.                                                   
                                                                                
              Storage Onion Production down 3 Percent                           
                                                                                
Summer storage onions (excluding California) should be harvested from           
80,960 acres in 1996, down 2 percent from last year.  Production is forecast at 
34.1 million hundredweight, down 3 percent from last year and 4 percent less    
than in 1994.                                                                   
                                                                                
Harvest of Michigan's onion crop was nearing completion.  Cool, dry weather     
during most of the growing season held disease problems down with most growers  
producing above average yields.  Size and quality were good to excellent in most
parts of the state.  Growing conditions were also good in Minnesota.  The crop  
in Wisconsin was 7 to 10 days later than normal but in good condition. Continued
wet conditions in New York delayed harvest by 2 weeks and caused some more acres
to be abandoned.                                                                
                                                                                
In Washington, the harvest was active with onions of good quality, but smaller  
than normal sizes.  In Idaho, hot weather during July and August may have slowed
growth.  As of September 22, 66 percent of the acreage had been harvested,      
slightly ahead of the five-year average of 59 percent.  In Oregon, producers in 
the Willamette valley were still expecting average or below average yields.     
Harvest was running slightly behind normal because a cool, wet spring slowed    
crop development.  Growers in Utah expected an average crop.                    
                                                                                
The California crop was expected from 31,000 acres, up 2 percent from last year 
and unchanged from 1994.  Production, at 13.6 million hundredweight, was        
8 percent greater than last year and 7 percent more than in 1994.  Yield and    
size of the crop was better than last year and better than this spring.  Harvest
was proceeding on schedule with very few problems.                              
The next "Vegetables" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on January 17,    
1997.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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