HDR1012000140060118951500Vegetables
HDR2012000140060118951500Vegetables Narrative

Released January 18, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board.


                               Fresh Market Harvested Acreage Down 9 Percent

Acreage intended for harvest of the 1995 winter crop fresh market vegetables is
estimated at 180,750 acres, down 9 percent from a year ago.  Decreases in the
acreages of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet corn, escarole/endive,
celery, head lettuce, bell peppers, and tomatoes offset increasing acreages of
snap beans, carrots, eggplant, and spinach.  Winter strawberry acreage is
forecast at 6,000 acres, up 3 percent from both last year and two years ago.


                                      Spring Onion Acreage Up Slightly

Acreage planted to spring onions is estimated at 38,700 acres for 1995, up
slightly from 1994 and 17 percent more than two years ago.

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For information call David Mueller at (202) 720-2157.  Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

Vg 1-1 (1-95)


HDR2012000140060118951500Vegetables and Melons

         Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area for Harvest
                       by Season, Major States, 1993-1995
                                (Domestic Units)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                          Area
          Crop        :--------------------------------------------------------
          and         :              Harvested              :       For
         Season       :-------------------------------------:     Harvest
                      :       1993       :       1994       :       1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                         Acres
                      :
Snap Beans            :      10,700             10,200             12,200
Broccoli 1/           :      23,000             25,500             24,000
Cabbage               :      12,300             14,000             12,500
Carrots 1/            :      25,000             24,800             25,600
Cauliflower 1/        :      10,500             10,000              9,000
Celery 1/             :       5,900              6,900              6,200
Sweet Corn            :       6,100              8,500              6,000
Eggplant              :         500                500                800
Escarole/Endive       :       1,300              1,100                450
Head Lettuce          :      67,100             71,500             60,500
Bell Pepper 1/        :       5,300              6,200              6,000
Spinach               :       2,800              2,300              2,500
Tomatoes              :      17,300             16,300             15,000
                      :
Total Winter Crop     :     187,800            197,800            180,750
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1/  Includes fresh market and processing.

       Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area for Harvest
                       by Season, Major States, 1993-1995
                                 (Metric Units)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                          Area
          Crop        :--------------------------------------------------------
          and         :              Harvested              :       For
         Season       :-------------------------------------:     Harvest
                      :       1993       :       1994       :       1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                        Hectares
                      :
Snap Beans            :       4,330              4,130              4,940
Broccoli 1/           :       9,310             10,320              9,710
Cabbage               :       4,980              5,670              5,060
Carrots 1/            :      10,120             10,040             10,360
Cauliflower 1/        :       4,250              4,050              3,640
Celery 1/             :       2,390              2,790              2,510
Sweet Corn            :       2,470              3,440              2,430
Eggplant              :         200                200                320
Escarole/Endive       :         530                450                180
Head Lettuce          :      27,150             28,940             24,480
Bell Pepper 1/        :       2,140              2,510              2,430
Spinach               :       1,130                930              1,010
Tomatoes              :       7,000              6,600              6,070
                      :
Total Winter Crop     :      76,000             80,070             73,140
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1/  Includes fresh market and processing.



         Selected Fresh Market Vegetables and Melons:  Area for Harvest
                by Crop, State, and Total, Winter Season, 1993-95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :         :               Area                :
         Crop        :  Usual  :-----------------------------------:    1995
         and         : Harvest :       Harvested       :    For    : as Percent
        State        : Period  :-----------------------:  Harvest  :  of 1994
                     :         :   1993    :   1994    :   1995    :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :         :  ------------ Acres -----------      Percent
                     :         :
Snap Beans           :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :   10,700      10,200      12,200        120
                     :         :
Broccoli 1/          :         :
  CA                 : Jan-Mar :   23,000      25,500      24,000         94
                     :         :
Cabbage              :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :    6,000       5,800       5,500         95
  TX                 : Jan-Mar :    6,300       8,200       7,000         85
  Total              :         :   12,300      14,000      12,500         89
                     :         :
Carrots 1/           :         :
  CA                 : Jan-Mar :   16,000      16,000      17,500        109
  FL                 : Nov-Mar :    5,500       4,800       4,000         83
  TX                 : Dec-Mar :    3,500       4,000       4,100        103
  Total              :         :   25,000      24,800      25,600        103
                     :         :
Cauliflower 1/       :         :
  CA                 : Jan-Mar :   10,500      10,000       9,000         90
                     :         :
Celery 1/            :         :
  CA                 : Jan-Mar :    5,900       6,900       6,200         90
                     :         :
Sweet Corn           :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :    6,100       8,500       6,000         71
                     :         :
Eggplant             :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :      500         500         800        160
                     :         :
Escarole/Endive      :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :    1,300       1,100         450         41
                     :         :
Head Lettuce         :         :
  AZ - Western       : Nov-Apr :   47,500      50,000      43,000         86
  CA                 : Dec-Apr :   15,000      16,300      17,500        107
  FL  2/             : Jan-Mar :    4,300       5,200
  TX  2/             : Nov-Apr :      300
  Total              :         :   67,100      71,500      60,500         85
                     :         :
Bell Pepper 1/       :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :    5,300       6,200       6,000         97
                     :         :
Spinach              :         :
  TX                 : Jan-Mar :    2,800       2,300       2,500        109
                     :         :
Tomatoes             :         :
  FL                 : Jan-Mar :   17,300      16,300      15,000         92
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes fresh market and processing.
2/  Estimate discontinued.


HDR2012000140060118951500Onions and Strawberries

             Onions and Strawberries for Fresh Market:  Area Planted
                and Harvested by Crop, Season, and Total, 1993-95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Crop,     :        Planted Area         :         Harvested Area
     Season,    :---------------------------------------------------------------
       and      :         :         :         :         :         : For Harvest
      State     :  1993   :  1994   :  1995   :  1993   :  1994   :    1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Acres
                :
Onions 1/       :
  Spring        :
    AZ 2/       :  1,400     1,700     1,400     1,300     1,600
    CA 2/       :  8,500     7,200     8,000     7,500     6,700
    GA          :  8,700    11,000    11,600     8,300    10,300      11,400
    TX          : 14,400    18,700    17,700    13,500    16,800      16,700
    Total       : 33,000    38,600    38,700    30,600    35,400
                :
Strawberries 3/ :
  Winter        :
    FL          :  5,800     5,800     6,000     5,800     5,800       6,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Primarily fresh market.
2/  1995 - planting intentions - harvested acreage published Apr 15, 1995.
3/  Includes fresh market and processing.

Onions:  Spring onions are planned for 38,700 acres in four States (Arizona,
         California, Georgia, and Texas) in 1995, up slightly from 1994 and
17 percent above 1993.  Texas and Georgia expect to harvest 28,100 acres of
spring onions this year, up 4 percent from a year ago.  Estimates of acres for
harvest in Arizona and California will be available in April.

Arizona growers have reduced planted acres 18 percent from a year ago.
California spring onions are on a normal schedule with acreage expected to be up
11 percent.  Planted acreage in Georgia is expected to be up 5 percent, with
planting progress a little behind a year ago.  Planted acreage is expected to be
down 5 percent in Texas.

Strawberries:  Winter strawberry crop acres intended for harvest in Florida are
               estimated at 6,000 acres, up 3 percent from both 1994 and
two years ago.  Early season storm damage was minimal, though development was
delayed slightly.  Growers reported good fruit quality, quantity, condition, and
color.  Picking started in November and continues gaining momentum.


Snap Beans:  Acres intended for Florida's winter snap bean harvest are estimated
             at 12,200 acres, up 20 percent from last year and 14 percent more
than in 1993.  Heavy rains and strong winds during mid-November and early
December reduced yield prospects and increased grade out for the winter crop.
Some growers abandoned acreage planted for winter harvest due to the effects of
these storms.


Broccoli:  California harvested acreage is estimated at 24,000 acres, down
           6 percent from last year but up 4 percent from 1993.  Growers
decreased acreage from a year ago in response to uncertain water supplies.


Cabbage:  Acres intended for harvest are estimated at 12,500 acres, 11 percent
          less than last year but a 2 percent increase from 1993.  In Florida,
heavy rains during September, November, and December delayed planting and fall
crop harvesting in the Hastings area.  Cutting began during early December in
southern areas and during late December and early January in the Hastings area.


Carrots:  Harvested acreage is estimated at 25,600 acres, a 3 percent increase
          from last year and up 2 percent from 1993.  Abundant moisture supplies
have encouraged a larger winter harvest in California.  Wet conditions in
Florida delayed the maturity of some of the crop and reduced acreage for
harvest. However, better conditions allowed the crop to recover and growers are
beginning harvest.


Cauliflower:  Acres intended for harvest in California are estimated at
              9,000 acres, down 10 percent from last year and 14 percent from
two years ago.  Extra moisture improved crop prospects.


Celery:  Acreage for harvest in California is estimated at 6,200 acres, off
         10 percent from last year but 5 percent greater than two years ago.
Rains delayed planting and harvesting of the crop.  Most acreage is being
shipped from the south coast area.


Sweet Corn:  Acres intended for harvest in Florida are estimated at 6,000 acres,
             down 29 percent from last year and 2 percent less than in 1993.
Heavy rains during mid-November caused some acreage abandonment around Lake
Okeechobee.  Rainfall in December and early January delayed winter crop
plantings in all southern regions. Strong winds during the storms laid over and
broke off some stalks in older fields.


Eggplant:  Florida acreage for harvest is estimated at 800 acres, up 60 percent
           from both 1993 and 1994.  The Dade county crop was recovering from
late December storm damage. The crop in other areas was in good condition.
Harvesting  was active in all areas.


Escarole/Endive:  Acreage intended for harvest in Florida is estimated at
                  450 acres, down 59 percent from last year and 65 percent less
than in 1993.  The harvest was active with a crop quality rated fair to good.


Head Lettuce:  Acres for harvest in Arizona and California are estimated at
               60,500 acres, down 9 percent from 1994 and 3 percent less than
in 1993.  A short desert supply in California has helped strengthen prices.



Bell Peppers:  Acreage for harvest in Florida is estimated at 6,000 acres, down
               3 percent from last year but up 13 percent from 1993.  Heavy
rains and strong winds during September, November, and December delayed
planting, knocked blooms and young fruit off plants, and delayed harvesting in
southern Florida.  Many growers expect a crop with below normal yields.


Spinach:  Acreage for harvest in Texas is estimated at 2,500 acres, up 9 percent
          from last year but down 11 percent from 1993. The crop was progressing
normal with no unusual problems reported.


Tomatoes:  Florida acreage intended for harvest is estimated at 15,000 acres
           down 8 percent from 1994 and 13 percent less than in 1993.  Storms
passing over the southern tomato regions mid-November and early December
interrupted planting, blew blooms and immature fruit off plants, and delayed
harvesting.  The unfavorable conditions reduced the winter crop yield prospects.


The next "Vegetables" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on
April 13, 1995.


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