Contract Vegetable Production Rises

WASHINGTON - Sep 6/07 - SNS -- The 2007 contracted processing vegetable production for the four major processing crops (snap beans, sweet corn, green peas, and tomatoes) is forecast at 16.7 million tons, up 13% from last year, according to the USDA.

Production of processing tomatoes, at 12.6 million tons, is 19% above 2006. Snap bean production, at 841,280 tons, is up 10% from last year's production. Sweet corn production, at 2.88 million tons, is down 7% from last year, and green pea production, at 409,940 tons, is 1% above 2006. Contracted area for harvest of the four major processing vegetable crops, at 1.08 million acres, is 1% above 2006.

Production of the 2007 asparagus crop is forecast at 1.13 million cwt, down 8% from 2006. Area harvested, at 41,200 acres, is down 8% from last year. Fresh production of 936,000 cwt, declined 6% from 2006. Processed production, at 9,900 tons, is down 18% from last year.

The end-of-season spring onion production estimate, at 10.9 million cwt, is down 2% from last year. Area harvested, at 31,300 acres, is down 10% from a year ago, while yield, at 348 cwt per acre, is up 26 cwt per acre from 2006. The value of the spring crop is estimated at 376 million dollars, 89% above last year.

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