Reduced Fresh Vegetable Area

WASHINGTON - Apr 3/07 - SNS -- The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the spring quarter is forecast at 200,700 acres, down 3% from last year, reports the USDA.

Acreage declines for snap beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, head lettuce, bell peppers, sweet corn, and tomatoes more than offset acreage increases for broccoli and cucumbers.

Melon acreage for spring harvest is forecast at 73,900, down 2% from last year. Watermelon acreage is down 1% from 2006 while cantaloup acreage declined 4% from a year ago. Honeydew melon acreage increased 2% from 2006. Asparagus area for spring harvest is forecast at 42,000 acres, down 6% from last year. Strawberry area for harvest is forecast at 45,000 acres, virtually unchanged from a year ago.

Total planted onion area for all seasons in 2007 is forecast at 166,800 acres, down 5% from last year. Spring onions are expected to be harvested from 31,600 acres in 2007, down 9% from 2006.

Georgia and Texas combined production is forecast at 6.17 million cwt, 16% below last year. Summer non-storage onion planted area, at 20,900 acres, is unchanged from a year ago. Total summer onion area, at 132,800 acres, is down 1% from the previous year.

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