Georgia Pecan Market Update

THOMASVILLE - Nov 17/09 - SNS -- The USDA updated pecan market conditions in the state of Georgia in today's Agricultural Marketing Service report.

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

Phone:  (229) 228-1208    Fax: (229) 225-1516

TV_FV140

GEORGIA PECAN REPORT (via Thomasville, Georgia)

    Deliveries by growers for this week have been moderate for
truckload lots while smaller lots under 20,000 pounds were good.
Some growers are drying and grading out their nuts to preserve
the quality and keeping the moisture content low in order to
receive a premium price offer. Interest has been good from buyers
wanting to purchase nuts for export sales as well as other domestic
areas. Harvesting in the southern part of the state is about sixty
five to seventy five percent finished, while the northern areas
are anywhere from fifteen to over 35 percent harvested (according
to growers and broker estimates). These estimates are from well
maintained and manicured orchards.
  Accumulation buying points reported an increase of offerings of
yard tree sales with several Improved varieties offered along with
Seedling/Natives. Offerings for lots under 20,000 pounds were steady
as compared to last week. There is a wide range of quality and size
in the nuts offered for sale this year, creating a two tier market
and variance in prices paid. From the commercial shellers, demand
was good for nuts with appropriate unit count and good quality,
while moderate to light for others. Buying interest is still mostly
from the import and gift pack sector looking for a few lots of high
quality nuts and good unit count. Interest from domestic buyers have
been moderate to fairly light, indicating that a marketing trend may
begin to take place.
  For lots less than 20,000 pounds with appropriate unit count and
purchased on a meat cost basis, lots of Blends with a meat yield of
49-52% sold in a range of about $2.27-2.66 per point, while lots
with a high unit count sold in a range of about $2.29-2.31 per point.
Lots of Desirables and meat yield of 50-52% sold in a range of about
$2.67-2.95 per point, while lots with a meat yield of 53% or better
sold in a range of about $2.95-3.02 per point. Lots of Desirables
with a high unit count (smaller nut size) sold in a range of about
$2.12-2.51 per point. Lots of Stuarts with a meat yield of 46-50%
sold in a range of about $2.57-2.76 per point.
   Deliveries and purchase of lots of other Improved varieties in
lot sizes over 20,000 pounds with appropriate unit count, lots of
Blends with a meat yield of 50-51% sold in a range of about $2.56-2.70
per point, and lots with a high unit count sold in a range of about
$2.00-2.32 per point. Lots of Desirables with a meat yield of 49-50%
sold in a range of about $2.65-2.67 per point. Lots of Stuarts with
a meat yield of 49-50% sold in a range of about $2.30-2.60 per point.

Prices paid to growers (from noon Thursday, November 12, 2009 through
late afternoon Tuesday, November 17, 2009) at buyers delivery point or
f.o.b. the orchard including direct sales to end users, cents per pound
in-shell of generally good quality in lots of 20,000 pounds or less
unless otherwise stated.

Cape Fear yard tree lots of generally good quality 70
Desirables  50-52% meat yield 134-153, 53%  meat yield or better 156-160,
yard tree lot of generally good quality (light offerings) 70
Elliott yard tree lots of generally good quality 90-100
Moneymaker yard tree lots of generally good quality 55-60, fair to poor
quality 30-45
Schley yard tree lots of generally good quality 70
Seedling yard tree lots of generally good quality 55-65, fair quality 40
Stuart (deliveries very light) yard tree lots of generally good quality
70 -85, occasional high as 100-105

Lots in excess of 20,000 pounds including trailer load lots:

Desirables 49-50%  meat yield 131-145, 51-54% meat yield 151-160
Stuart 49-50% meat yield 115-133
Elliott (offerings insufficient to establish market prices)

THE NEXT GEORGIA REPORT WILL BE ISSUED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

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STAT News Service