Georgia Pecan Market Update

THOMASVILLE - Dec 2/03 - SNS -- The USDA updated pecan market conditions in the state of Georgia in today's Agricultural Marketing Service report.

PECANS-PRICES PAID TO GROWERS
Georgia  (via Thomasville, Georgia)  
  Deliveries by growers were moderate for yard tree lots but otherwise 
fairly light.  Demand was moderate with buying interest noted primarily 
by commercial shellers. Prices paid to growers were slightly lower.
Harvest activities continued to be fairly active but were slowed by
observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Most availability is now 
in the form of machine harvested blends with lots sold by individual
varieties too few to establish a market, except for yard tree lots. 
Yield and grade continues to decrease causing the available supply
level of pecans to continue to be below seasonable expectations.     
  Buying interest displayed by end users was moderate. Trading was
moderate, except slow in the period around the Thanksgiving Day
holiday. Other than yard tree lots, purchases during the reporting
period consisted primarily of machine harvested blends. Prices
(purchased on a meat cost basis) varied greatly depending on the meat
yield ranging from a high of $1.90 to a low of $1.00 per point. For
lots of mostly 70 units or less per pound with meat yield of 46% or 
better but mostly 46-47%, sales on a meat cost basis ranged from 
$1.70-1.90 per point. For those lots with similar unit count but meat 
yield of 42-44%, prices ranged from $1.60-1.85 per point but mostly 
$1.65-1.75 per point. For lots of meat yield of 36% prices were 
between $1.40-1.50 per point. For lots with meat yield of 34-35%,
prices as low as $1.00 per point were reported. For lots of high 
unit count (as high as 90 units per pound) prices of a similar nature
to the above were reported, again depending on meat yield.   
  Prices paid to growers (Tuesday afternoon, November 25 thru noon
 Tuesday, December 02) at buyers delivery point or f.o.b. the 
orchard including direct sales to end users, cents per pound inshell 
of generally good quality in lots of 20,000 pounds or less unless
otherwise stated.
Desirable deliveries insufficient to establish a market
Money Maker  deliveries insufficient to establish a market
Seedling yard tree lots of generally good quality 40-55 mostly 50
poorer quality low as 35
Stuart  yard tree lots of generally good quality 45-60 mostly 50-55
poorer quality low as 35 
Lots in excess of 20,000 lbs including trailerload lots
Desirable deliveries insufficient to establish a market
Stuart deliveries insufficient to establish a market

The next report to be released on Thursday, December 04, 2003

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STAT News Service

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