Vegetable release, January 8, 2008

Vegetables
Washington, D.C.

Released January 8, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S.
Department of Agriculture. For information on Vegetables call Debbie Flippin at (202) 720-2157, office hours 7:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. ET.

Fresh Vegetable Harvested Area Down 3 Percent From Last Year
Spring Onion Planted Acreage Down 5 Percent
Strawberry Planted Acreage Up 1 Percent

The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the winter quarter is
forecast at 173,700 acres, down 3 percent from last year. Acreage declined for broccoli, carrots,
cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, head lettuce, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Acreage increased for
snap beans and cabbage. Area harvested for spinach remains unchanged.
Area planted for spring onions, at 32,000 acres, is down 5 percent from 2007. Georgia and Texas
reduced planted acreage from 2007, while Arizona and California increased planted acreage.
Strawberry area planted for major States (California, Florida, and Oregon) in 2008 is forecast at
47,000 acres, up 1 percent from 2007.

Vg 1-1 (1-08)

Contents
Page

Fresh Market Vegetables
Beans, Snap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Broccoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cabbage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carrots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cauliflower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Celery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corn, Sweet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lettuce, Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Onions, Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Peppers, Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spinach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strawberries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tomatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
4

Fresh Market Crop Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Selected Fresh Market Vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Vegetables
January 2008

2

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Selected Fresh Market Vegetables: Area Harvested by Crop, Winter Season,
Major States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted Area 2008
(Domestic Units)
Area

2006

2007

For
Harvest
2008

Acres

Acres

Acres

Harvested

Crop

Snap Beans
Broccoli 1
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower 1
Celery 1
Sweet Corn
Head Lettuce
Bell Pepper 1
Spinach
Tomatoes
Total Winter Crop
1
Includes fresh market and processing.

13,200
28,500
10,600
21,200
8,500
7,600
3,600
67,600
6,100
2,200
10,000

13,900
30,000
9,500
19,100
8,200
7,600
7,000
67,400
6,100
800
10,000

14,000
28,500
12,900
18,900
8,000
7,300
6,400
62,000
5,800
800
9,100

179,100

179,600

173,700

Selected Fresh Market Vegetables: Area Harvested by Crop, Winter Season,
Major States, 2006-2007 and Forecasted Area 2008
(Metric Units)
Area
For
Harvest
2008

Harvested

Crop
2006

2007

Hectares

Hectares

Hectares

Snap Beans
Broccoli 1
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower 1
Celery 1
Sweet Corn
Head Lettuce
Bell Pepper 1
Spinach
Tomatoes

5,340
11,530
4,290
8,580
3,440
3,080
1,460
27,360
2,470
890
4,050

5,630
12,140
3,840
7,730
3,320
3,080
2,830
27,280
2,470
320
4,050

5,670
11,530
5,220
7,650
3,240
2,950
2,590
25,090
2,350
320
3,680

Total Winter Crop 2
1
Includes fresh market and processing.
2
Total may not add due to rounding.

72,480

72,680

70,290

Vegetables
January 2008

3

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Selected Fresh Market Vegetables: Area Harvested by Crop, State, and
Total, Winter Season, 2006-2007 and Forecasted Area 2008
Area
Crop
Usual
Harvested
and
Harvest
State
Period
2006
2007
Acres

Acres

For
Harvest
2008
Acres

Snap Beans
FL

Jan-Mar

13,200

13,900

14,000

Broccoli 1
CA

Jan-Mar

28,500

30,000

28,500

Cabbage
FL
TX

Jan-Mar
Dec-Mar

3,900
6,700

4,800
4,700

5,000
7,900

10,600

9,500

12,900

20,000
1,200

18,200
900

18,000
900

21,200

19,100

18,900

Total
Carrots
CA
TX

Jan-Mar
Dec-Mar

Total
Cauliflower 1
CA

Jan-Mar

8,500

8,200

8,000

Celery 1
CA

Jan-Mar

7,600

7,600

7,300

Sweet Corn
FL

Jan-Mar

3,600

7,000

6,400

Head Lettuce
AZ - Western
CA

Nov-Apr
Jan-Mar

47,600
20,000

45,400
22,000

42,000
20,000

67,600

67,400

62,000

Total
Bell Pepper 1
FL

Jan-Mar

6,100

6,100

5,800

Spinach
TX

Dec-Mar

2,200

800

800

Tomatoes
FL
Jan-Mar
1
Includes fresh market and processing.

10,000

10,000

9,100

Vegetables
January 2008

4

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Onions and Strawberries for Fresh Market: Area Planted and Harvested
by Crop, Season, and Total, 2006-2007 and Forecasted Area 2008
Crop,
Season,
and
State

Planted Area

Harvested Area

2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

For Harvest
2008

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

1

Onions
Spring
AZ 2
CA 2
GA
TX

1,000
8,100
14,000
17,700

1,200
7,600
12,500
12,500

1,600
7,900
12,000
10,500

1,000
7,900
10,500
15,200

1,200
7,400
12,000
10,400

Total 2

40,800

33,800

32,000

34,600

31,000

35,800
7,400
3,100

35,500
8,400
2,800

35,500
8,800
2,700

35,800
7,300
2,100

35,500
8,300
1,900

35,500
8,700
1,900

47,000

45,200

45,700

46,100

Strawberries 3
CA
FL
OR

Major States
46,700
46,300
Total
1
Primarily fresh market.
2
2008 harvested acreage published April 3, 2008.
3
Includes fresh market and processing.

Vegetables
January 2008

5

11,500
9,000

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Snap Beans: Florida area for harvest is forecast at 14,000 acres, up 1 percent from last year.
Warm, dry weather during October through December allowed growers to plant the snap bean crop
on schedule.
Broccoli: California harvested area is forecast at 28,500 acres, down 5 percent from 2007.
Unseasonably cool temperatures throughout the State may affect overall plant growth. Preparatory
irrigation was required in many areas due to lack of rain.
Cabbage: Winter area for harvest is forecast at 12,900 acres, 36 percent above 2007. In Florida,
hot and dry conditions during October through December delayed some plantings. However, most
planting was finished by the end of the year.
Carrots: Winter harvested area is forecast at 18,900 acres, down 1 percent from last year. In
California, unseasonably cool temperatures throughout the State may affect overall plant growth.
Demand for baby carrots remained strong and supply is expected to remain steady. In Texas,
planting is on the decline for fresh market carrots due to excessive rainfall.
Cauliflower: California harvested area is forecast at 8,000 acres, down 2 percent from last year.
Cooler than normal weather has affected cauliflower growth more than other vegetables.
Celery: The winter celery crop for harvest in California is forecast at 7,300 acres, down 4 percent
from last year. The crop was in good condition with no pest or disease problems reported.
Sweet Corn: Florida harvested area is forecast at 6,400 acres, 9 percent below last year. Favorable
conditions during October, November, and December allowed planting of the sweet corn crop to
proceed on schedule.
Head Lettuce: Area for harvest is forecast at 62,000 acres, down 8 percent from last year. In
Arizona, the crop was ahead of schedule due to above average temperatures until mid-December.
However, below average and freezing temperatures since then has resulted in harvest delays In
California, lettuce fields are in various stages of growth. Cool temperatures and rainfall delayed
plant growth, and freezing temperatures resulted in some blistering and peeling.
Onions: Growers intend to plant 32,000 acres of spring onions for 2008, down 5 percent from
2007. California onion growers began planting in October and continued through mid-December.
Onion fields have shown good growth in many areas following recent rains. In Georgia,
transplanting was delayed due to dry soils and was only 12 percent complete as of the first week of
December. In November and December, rainfall was well below normal. No disease problems
have been reported in the plant beds. In Texas, onion planting is down due to growers planting row
crops instead of onions.
Bell Peppers: Winter area for harvest in Florida is forecast at 5,800 acres, down 5 percent from
last year. Mostly dry and cool conditions from October through December allowed planting to
progress on schedule.

Vegetables
January 2008

6

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Spinach: Harvested area of winter spinach in Texas is forecast at 800 acres, unchanged from 2007
but 64 percent below 2006. Spinach planting has declined in recent years due to reduced demand
and the introduction of strict rules for producers growing leafy green vegetables.
Strawberries: Planted area for the major States (California, Florida, and Oregon) is forecast at
47,000 acres, up 1 percent from 2007. In California, transplanting and growing conditions were
mostly ideal throughout the State. In Florida, producers began transplanting by early October and
irrigated sets due to drought conditions. Warm temperatures during most of November and
December hindered berry development. Labor issues in Oregon continue to be a concern for
growers.
Tomatoes: Florida winter tomato harvested area is forecast at 9,100 acres, down 9 percent from
2007. Growers were able to keep planting on schedule due to mostly mild weather conditions.

Vegetables
January 2008

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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