Southern United States Pecan Market

PHOENIX - Jan 7/10 - 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
WESTERN REGION PECAN REPORT.

PECAN PRICES PAID TO GROWERS

ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS (via Phoenix, Arizona)

   Deliveries by growers to buying points were moderate. Production and
delivery numbers are expected to continue to increase this next week. Demand
was moderate. Prices paid to growers were slightly higher. Harvesting
continues in all areas, and is now approximately 60-70% complete.

Weather forecast calls for low temperatures in the low to mid 20s and high
temperatures in the mid to upper 50s the next week with a 30 percent chance of
precipitation forecast for Friday, January 8, 2010, with no other
precipitation forecast in the next week.

This past week, temperatures ranged from lows in the mid 20s, to highs in the
50s to low 60s. There was no measureable precipitation in the area this past
week.

Harvested quality has been generally good with most sample lots of Western
Schley ranging from 53-56% on large lots.

Buying interest by end users has been moderate. Some growers are delaying
making marketing decisions, opting to concentrate on harvesting and
accumulating supplies in order to dry and grade nuts for later sale. Other
growers, accounting for approximately 85% of this years crop, have established
agreements with users with arrangements made to market all or part of their
crop with provisions made for price, time of delivery, shelling and storage
and method of payment. Export interest to China has been good.

Prices paid to growers from noon Tuesday, January 05, 2010 to noon Thursday,
January 07, 2010 at delivery point or F.O.B. the orchard.

In lots in excess of 20,000 pounds, Improved varieties mostly Western Schley
53-56% meat yield or better mostly 55% meat yield $3.25-3.50 per point, mostly
$3.25-3.30 per point, occasional higher and lower.

Lots of less than 1000 pounds Improved varieties mostly Western Schley
deliveries and purchases insufficient to establish a market.

NEXT REPORT WILL BE ISSUED THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

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STAT News Service