Produce.(MARKETS).

Bell Peppers Illustration, originally uploaded by Jekiri.

VEGETABLES--The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at 152,080 acres, up 5% from last year, according to USDA's Vegetable report. Acreage increased from last year for snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, and head lettuce while acreage declined for carrots, bell peppers and tomatoes. Area forecasted for fall melon harvest is 17,200 acres, up 19% from last year. Cantaloupe harvested area is forecast at 13,700 acres, up 19% from 2008. Honeydew harvested area is forecast at 3,500 acres, up 21% from last fall. Summer storage onion production is forecast at 57.2 million hundredweight, up 3% from last year. Storage onion harvested area is forecast at 104,410 acres, down 1% from 2008. California production, at 13.9 million hundredweight, is 5% above 2008. Harvested area is expected to total 32,000 acres, up 2% from last year.

SNAP BEANS: Land preparations in the Big Bend and central regions of Florida began in mid-August. However, by early September, some fieldwork was delayed due to heavy rainfall. In New Jersey, lower than normal nighttime temperatures and excessive rainfall delayed harvest early in the season. However, late plantings benefited from sufficient showers and near normal temperatures.

CABBAGE: In Georgia, growing conditions have been favorable for the fall season cabbage. In Florida, growers in the southern Peninsula began planting in July. In New Jersey, planting was ahead of schedule due to cool summer weather and sufficient rainfall. Harvest of the cabbage crop started in early September. In Texas, planting began earlier than normal and the crop is reported to be progressing very well.

CARROTS: In California, harvest is underway in the Bakersfield area and the crop is reported to be in good condition. In Texas, hot and dry weather created challenges for irrigation and stand establishment of plants. However, timely rainfall and cool weather after the Labor Day holiday benefited soil moisture.

SWEET CORN: The California crop is in good condition due to favorable weather during the summer and early fall. In Florida, land preparation and planting began in the southern Peninsula in July. In early September, heavy rainfall delayed some fieldwork. However, by mid-September fields began to dry out, allowing growers to proceed with planting.

CUCUMBERS: In Florida, growing conditions have been favorable in the southern peninsula areas. Growers in South Carolina experienced a hot and dry growing season. In Texas, growing conditions were favorable due to rain and cool weather during mid-September.

HONEYDEWS: Arizona 's harvest of fall season honeydews is expected to be in full swing by mid -October. California's fall melon crop is progressing well due to ideal temperatures.

BELL PEPPERS: Florida's planting was delayed in the Panhandle area due to excessive rainfall. Disease is a concern for young transplants due to wet fields.

TOMATOES: In California, quality of fall tomatoes is good despite the summer heat wave. In Florida, acreage remains historically low due to competition from imports, lack of demand during the summer season, and high input costs.

RETAIL REPORT--Apples arrived in stores, and reported varieties included red delicious, gala and honeycrisp. Tomatoes on-the-vine and asparagus remained in the top five overall. Vegetable ads accounted for almost 55% of all ads, with red bell peppers, mushrooms and sweet onions accounting for the remainder of the vegetable top five. Fruit added hass avocados to the overall top five replacing peaches. Strawberries and red delicious apples rounded out the fruit top five. Of the major ad items (defined here as advertised in 3,000+ stores this week), weighted average prices for all the five fruits were lower than a year ago. Pears were down 14% in ad prices, grapes were down 11%, strawberries down 9% and hass avocados down 7%. The only vegetable item on ad that was higher priced than a year ago was red bell peppers. Green bells were down 20%. Asparagus was down 14% while on-the-vine tomatoes ads were 6% lower than a year ago.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: UK supermarkets report that locally produced produce has been resilient in the recession, with demand expected to grow by double digits this year. MINTEL estimates locally sourced food retail sales in the UK will total 6.2 billion [pounds sterling] by 2013, up from 4.7 billion [pounds sterling] in 2008 as customers buy regional foods to support their local economy. "Our local and regional sales over the last year are growing at over 42% year on year, and the previous year they were up over 50% year on year, so sales are still growing quite dramatically," claimed Graham Cassie, manager of local and regional sourcing at WAITROSE, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 5).

GRAPES--Peruvian grape exports continue increasing and are expected to reach 50,000 metric tons (MT) in CY 2009, a 22% increase compared to the previous year. Post forecasts that Peruvian grape exports will continue increasing at a pace of 20% to 25% per year for the next five years. Grape production in CY 2009 is estimated to increase 20%, reaching 270,000 MT. (http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publica tions/Grape%20Report_Lima_Peru_8-28-2009.pdf)

FRESH VEGETABLES & MELONS
AREA FOR FALL HARVEST
(Source: USDA)

For Harvest % Chg.
Acres: 2009 vs. 2008

Snap Beans 18,000 1.1%
Broccoli * 25,500 2.0%
Cabbage 6,680 34.4%
Carrots 16,800 -1.2%
Cauliflower * 8,400 6.3%
Celery * 7,400 5.7%
Sweet Corn 10,000 6.4%
Cucumbers 5,900 20.4%
Head Lettuce 31,000 10.7%
Bell Peppers * 3,600 -2.7%
Tomatoes 18,800 -1.1%
Total 11 Vegetables 152,080 5.1%
Cantaloupes 13,700 19.1%
Honeydew 3,500 20.7%
Total Melons 17,200 19.4%
Total Fall Crop 169,280 6.4%

* Includes fresh market and processing.

Commodity Source Movement Trading Prices

Beans South [up Fairly
Georgia arrow] active

Carribean Same Slow Same
Basin

Carrots Kern District, Same Moderate Same
CA

Michigan Same Fairly slow 50-lb. sacks
loose jumbo
lower

Cucumbers South Same Early fairly [down
Georgia active, late arrow]
moderate

Mexico [down Early fairly [down
Crossing arrow] slow, late arrow]
Thru active at
CA lower prices

Lettuce, Salinas- [down Early slow, [up
Romaine Watsonville, arrow] late arrow]
CA fairly
active

Santa Maria, Same Moderate [down
CA arrow]

Oranges South & Same Shippers Same
Central First Grade
District, CA & Choice
113-138s
active
for light
supplies,
others slow

South Africa Same Moderate [down
arrow]

Pumpkins Virginia Same Fairly [up
active arrow]

Spinach Central Same Early mod., [down
Coast, CA late fairly [arrow]
slow

Tomatoes Central CA Same Early slow, Extra
late fairly large
active higher

Southern CA Same 5x6s fairly 5x6s
Coast & active at lower,
Mexican lower others
Crossing Thru prices, higher
CA others
Fairly
active

Fall Season Fresh Market Vegetables
(Source: USDA)

Tomatoes 12%
Bell Peppers 2%
Head Lettuce 20%
Cucumbers 4%
Sweet Corn 7%
Celery 5%
Cauliflower 6%
Carrots 11%
Cabbage 4%
Broccoli 17%
Snap Beans 12%
Harvested Acres Total 152,080

Note: Table made from pie graph.
Analyst: Megan Myers

201-791-5570 ext. 225

mmyers@foodinstitute.com

Source Citation
Myers, Megan. "Produce." The Food Institute Report 12 Oct. 2009: 13. General OneFile. Web. 1 Jan. 2010. .

Gale Document Number:A210651451