Southern United States Pecan Market

PHOENIX - Dec 9/03 - SNS -- Pecan market conditions and prices were updated for Arizona, New Mexico And West Texas in this report from the USDA.

PECAN REPORT.

---ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
   Deliveries by growers to buying points were fairly light with most deliveries 
in small lot quantities. Demand was moderate. Prices paid to growers were about 
steady on limited trading. Harvesting was very active as growers took advantage 
of ideal harvesting conditions. Growers continued to accumulate supplies for 
later sale allowing for nuts to dry to acceptable moisture levels.    
   The weather late last week was dry with highs in the 50s to 60s and lows in 
the 20s to 40s, ideal for harvesting. Scattered rain fell in Southern and 
Eastern New Mexico Monday evening December 8 with minimal harvesting delays 
expected for this week. The weather forecast calls for similar temperatures for 
the balance of this week with a chance of precipitation this weekend in most 
areas.   
   Early harvested quality has been variable according to the lot. Sample lots 
of Western Schley generally ranging 54-55% meat yield on larger quantities and 
50-53% meat yield on smaller quantities. Some lots have shown varying degrees of 
quality deterioration in the form of embryo sprouting largely due to above 
normal temperatures in the summer and early fall growing seasons and water 
shortages that reduced the ability of growers to irrigate plantations in a 
timely fashion.     
   Buying interest by end users has been moderate for commercial seller use and 
for retail inshell use. Trading has increased but generally has been limited as 
most users continue to utilize inventories on hand accessing needs, or making 
purchases from other growing areas while waiting for harvest activity to 
increase and more supplies to be available from the Western region. Growers 
generally are delaying making marketing decisions instead opting to concentrate 
on harvesting and accumulating supplies in order to dry and grade nuts for later 
sale.   

Prices paid to growers from Thursday afternoon, December 04, 2003 to noon 
Tuesday, December 09, 2003 at delivery point or F.O.B. the orchard. 

In lots in excess of 20,000 pounds mostly truckload lots of 40,000 pounds or 
more Improved varieties mostly Western Schley 54% meat yield or better mostly 
54-55% meat yield few sales $2.25 per point.  

Lots less than 5000 pounds Various varieties cents per pound inshell 50-53% meat 
yield 80-95

Next report will be issued Thursday, December 11, 2003. 


 
 

 
 

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STAT News Service

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