Baby carrot demand remains strong. Acreage for fall harvest in California is estimated at 10,600 acres, up 4 percent from last year and 1 percent above two years ago. Early season heat affected development, but recent seasonal temperatures helped the sizing and quality recover. California's fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 7,100 acres, up 6 percent from 1997 and 3 percent more than two years ago. Seasonable temperatures late in the season have helped to offset the heat-related stress from early in the season.
Harvest is on schedule.
In California, quality has improved due to recent seasonable temperatures. Harvest is expected to proceed with no unusual problems. Nationally, fresh market acreage for harvest is estimated at 9,500 acres, down 9 percent from last year, and 12 percent less than 1996. In Florida, the threat of hurricanes delayed planting in some areas. Extremely dry conditions in New Jersey affected fall planting.