Southern United States Pecan Market

PHOENIX - Jan 4/07 - SNS -- Pecan market conditions and prices were updated for Arizona, New Mexico And West Texas in this report from the USDA.

Provided by:  Fruit and Vegetable Market News,
              Federal-State Market News Service, USDA.

Phone: (602) 514-7210    Fax: (602) 514-7215

IX FV140
PHOENIX PECAN REPORT.

---ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
   Deliveries by growers to buying points were moderate for large lots and
fairly light for small lots. Demand was moderate. Prices paid to growers were
about steady. Harvesting was active in all areas although some delay was caused
by scattered precipitation late last week and early this week. Trade sources
estimate harvesting to be about 90-95 per cent complete depending upon the area
with much of the remaining acreage in Southern New Mexico in small blocks
waiting custom harvesting. Most large growers have finished harvesting and are
in the process of delivery or are completing drying and grading nuts prior to
delivery.
   The weather forecast for the next week calls for a chance of precipitation
this weekend and early next week in all areas. Low temperatures are forecasted
in the upper 20s to 30s in the higher elevations and upper 30s to 40s in the
lower elevations.
   Harvested quality has been good with most sample lots of Western Schley
ranging 58-60% on larger lots and 55-58% on smaller lots and displaying well
filled nuts and good kernel color.
   Buying interest by end users has been fairly good for commercial sheller use.
Trading has been moderate for available supplies although users continue to
make purchases from other growing areas where available. Some growers are
delaying making marketing decisions, opting to concentrate on finishing harvest
or to dry and grade nuts for later sale. A few growers have or expect to store
some nuts in cold storage facilities for later marketing. Other growers have
established agreements with users with arrangements made to market all or part
of their crop with provisions made for price, time of delivery, storage and
method of payment.

Prices paid to growers from Thursday afternoon, December 28, 2006 to noon
Thursday, January 04, 2007 at delivery point or F.O.B. the orchard.

In lots in excess of 20,000 pounds mostly truckload lots of 40,000 pounds or
more, Improved varieties mostly Western Schley 55% meat yield mostly 58-60% meat
yield $3.15-3.20 per point.

Lots of less than 5000 pounds (more than 1000 pounds) Various varieties cents
per pound inshell 52% meat yield or better mostly 55-58% meat yield according to
quality and lot size 130-160 per pound, few best higher.

Lots of less than 1000 pounds Various varieties cents per pound inshell 52% meat
yield or better mostly 55-58% meat yield according to quality 120-150 per pound,
few best higher.

NEXT REPORT WILL BE ISSUED THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2007.

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STAT News Service