California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: NASS

  • Navel Oranges Dominate CA Citrus Production, Mandarin Acreage on the Rise

    The Pacific Regional Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts an acreage survey of California citrus growers as funding is available. The purpose of this survey is to provide bi-annual citrus acreage, which includes information on new plantings and removals. It is the continuation of a long series of industry-funded Citrus Acreage surveys. Resulting data reveals that the navel orange by far continues to dominate California citrus acreage and production; however, while bearing acreage of navels has been on a decline, mandarins and mandarin hybrids are trending higher than in previous years, with a significant amount of nonbearing acreage in the ground this year.  Overall, the industry has seen an increase in citrus acreage over the past couple years in the state.

    Users are cautioned that this report consists of two parts:

      • ➢  Table1 shows estimated statewide bearing acreage for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

      • ➢  Tables 2, 3, and 4 show detailed acreage data by type, variety, and year planted — as voluntarily reported by citrus growers and maintained in NASS’ database.

    With perfect information, the estimated statewide bearing acreage and the detailed acreage data would be the same. Generally, this will not be the case for the following reasons:

    • ➢  A voluntary survey of approximately 5,400 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100 percent completeness.

    • ➢  It is difficult for USDA/NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time. 

    PROCEDURES

    The major source of the citrus detailed acreage data was a questionnaire mailed to all citrus growers currently in NASS’ database. The mailing was sent in January 2022. The questionnaire contained previously reported crop, variety, and acreage information preprinted. Producers were asked to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any other corrections. New growers were mailed a blank questionnaire. Growers were given about eight weeks to respond by mail. A telephone follow-up was then undertaken. Data collection ended in July 2022.

    To arrive at the estimated statewide bearing acreage, the NASS citrus acreage database was compared with pesticide application data maintained by County Agricultural Commissioners and the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    The USDA, NASS Pacific Regional Office sincerely appreciates the many orchard operators, owners, and management firms that provided their acreage information. Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.

  • Fresno County Dominates CA Processing Tomato Production

    The USDA-NASS Pacific Regional Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for their final acreage and tonnage for the 2020 season. The reported data is summarized by county and listed with final 2019 acres, yield and production for comparison.

    In 2020, there were 234,000 acres of processing tomatoes planted in California, a decrease of 1,000 acres compared to 2019. An estimated 228,000 acres were harvested in 2020, unchanged from the previous year. Total 2020 production was 11.31 million tons, 1.1% higher than the 2019 final production of 11.19 million tons.

    Fresno County continued to be the top California county with 3.62 million tons produced. The remaining top five counties include Yolo, Kings, Merced and San Joaquin, accounting for 74% of the total 2020 processing tomato tonnage for California. 

  • CA Utilized Vegetable Production Value Shows Slight Decline

    California leads the nation in vegetable production, accounting for 39% of the U.S. vegetable acreage. The value of California’s 2020 utilized vegetable production dropped 0.9% to $7.68 billion compared to 2019’s value of $7.74 billion according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Field Office.

    Despite the decrease in state’s overall total value of utilized production, crops showing an increase included broccoli, cantaloupe, lettuce of all types, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. California fresh market and processing vegetable growers planted 939,700 acres of principal vegetable crops in 2020, down 3% from 2019. Utilized production totaled 433.8 million hundred weight up slightly from 2019’s 431.7 million hundred weight.

    USDA NASS recently posted the Vegetables 2020 Summary for vegetables grown during the 2020 crop year in California and across the U.S. The report includes survey data collected for acreage, production, marketing year price and value collected on an annual basis for 26 vegetable and melon crops in the U.S. Questionnaire content, survey timetables, and survey administration are state specific. Data are gathered by telephone interviews, mail-out/mail-back, faxed questionnaires, and personal interviews.

    Family favorites grown in California include artichokes, broccoli, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and more. For a copy of the full report, visit Vegetables 2020 Summary. Just interested in California? Here are comments on 2020 crops where The Golden State is the largest producer. The data reflects U.S. numbers:

    Artichokes: Total production in 2020 totaled 812,000 cwt, down 15% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 5,900 acres, down 11% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 5,800 acres, was down 12% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $62.6 million, 16% below the previous season. Utilized production totaled 792,500 cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, artichokes enjoyed a routine spring with strong supplies and steady demand. The March increase could be attributed to consumers pushing the demand for healthy vegetables. The pandemic temporarily impacted labor availability and elevated production costs, but generally favorable weather resulted in good quality and production.

    Broccoli: Total production in 2020 totaled 15.8 million cwt, down 5% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 100,900 acres, down 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 100,300 acres, was also down 4% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $875 million, 3% more than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 15.8 million cwt, of which 15.3 million cwt was for the fresh market and 25,060 tons for processing. In California, the pandemic caused a variety of changes in the marketplace. Most notably was the decreased demand from the food service industry for broccoli. Growers plowed under broccoli due to limited demand by the hospitality industry.

    Cabbage: Total production in 2020 totaled 23.7 million cwt, up 6% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 60,600 acres, down 3% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 58,600 acres, was down 3% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $428 million, 16% less than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 23.6 million cwt, of which 19.1 million cwt was for the fresh market and 224,241 tons for processing. In California, weather during the planting in the fall of 2019 and through head development in 2020 was favorable. No reports of pathogen impact were reported for the crop.

    Cantaloupes: Total production in 2020 totaled 11.3 million cwt, a slight increase from 2019. Planted areas was estimated at 41,000 acres, down 15% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 40,600 acres, down 15% from 2019. The value of the crop total was $296 million, an increase of 24% from previous year. The utilized production was 11.3 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, lack of rainfall during the spring months and high temperatures during the summer months provided ideal growing conditions for cantaloupes compared to last year.

    Carrots: Total production in 2020 totaled 31.1 million cwt, down 6% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 69,900 acres, down 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 69,700 acres, was down 3% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $716 million, 7% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 31.1 million cwt, of which 22.3 million cwt was for the fresh market and 441,787 tons for processing. In California, the largest producing State, the carrot market was steady through the spring of the year. In the heavily farmed central portion of the Cuyama Valley, where a lot of California’s carrots are grown, the water table continued to drop in 2020.

    Cauliflower: Total production in 2020 totaled 9.0 million cwt, down 11% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 42,500 acres, down 6% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 42,200 acres, was down 7% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $346 million, 25% less than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 8.9 million cwt, of which 8.8 million cwt was for the fresh market and 2,724 tons for processing. In California, growers have seen dramatic movement of cauliflower during the pandemic. This year has seen generally shrinking volume from the beginning of February, and lower volume than the previous two year since the beginning of March. Pricing is below the prior two years and continues decreasing, although price has not stabilized, the rate of decrease has slowed.

    Celery: Total production in 2020 totaled 16.1 million cwt, up 2% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 29,200 acres, up 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 28,800 acres, increased 2% from the previous year. The value of the crop totaled $359 million, down 24% from previous year. Utilized production for 2020 totaled 16.1 million cwt, up 2% from 2019.
    In California, growers reported higher production but price dropped considerably.

    Garlic: Total production in 2020 totaled 3.46 million cwt, down 10% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 24,700 acres, unchanged from the previous year. Area harvested, at 24,700 acres, was unchanged from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $264 million, 12% less than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 3.46 million cwt, of which 1.21 million cwt was for the fresh market and 112,385 tons for processing. In California, producers were tempered by soil borne pathogens that reduced yield in some areas, though overall the growing season experienced favorable weather.

    Honeydew: Total production in 2020 totaled 2.36 million cwt, down 9% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 7,600 acres, down 25% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 7,600 acres, was also down 25% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $49.2 million, down 11% from the previous season. Utilized production totaled 2.36 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, lack of rainfall during the spring months and high temperatures during the summer months provided ample growing conditions for honeydew compared to last year.

    Head lettuce: Total production in 2020 totaled 40.7 million cwt, down 3% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 114,000 acres, down 2% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 112,900 acres, was down 3% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $1.25 billion, 12% less than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 40.7 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, the largest producing State, higher than normal temperatures in the central valley resulted in substantial losses. In the coastal region, warm weather and wildfires affected supplies later in the year. Significant occurrences of crop disease also contributed to a tight market, prompting concerns of shortages in other parts of the country. Some producers in Arizona and California have allowed some head lettuce to die in the field or to be disced under, due to decreased sales to food service companies.

    Leaf lettuce: Total production in 2020 totaled 15.6 million cwt, up 25% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 62,900 acres, up 9% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 61,700 acres, was also up 8% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $800 million, 23% more than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 15.6 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, some growers did not harvest their fields during the spring in response to market conditions, but demand improved as the year progressed. There was a small amount of heat damage to the crop, but yields were up significantly from the previous year. Quality was reported to be fair and demand was strong enough to keep prices up. However, some producers in Arizona and California have allowed some leaf lettuce to die in the field or to be disced under, due to decreased sales to food service companies.

    Romaine lettuce: Total production in 2020 totaled 30.3 million cwt, up 11% from the 2019 total. Planted area was estimated at 93,100 acres, up 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 91,500 acres, was up 4% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $948 million, 8% more than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 30.3 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market. In California, there were quality issues in the late summer crop as instances of Sclerotinia and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus were found in the Central Coast region. In November, there was a voluntary recall of Romaine lettuce due to a potential outbreak of E.coli. Overall, yields were up from a year ago. Some producers in Arizona and California have allowed Romaine lettuce to die in the field or to be disced under, due to decreased sales to food service companies.

    Onions: Total production in 2020 totaled 75.2 million cwt, up 8% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 134,700 acres, up 2% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 132,800 acres, was up 3% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $878 million, 12% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 73.5 million cwt, of which 49.5 million cwt was for the fresh market and 1.20 million tons were for processing. In California, the largest producing State, growers reported the summer being too hot too early. Later in the summer there wasn’t enough sun when wildfires blanketed the state in smoke for months.

    Bell peppers: Total production in 2020 totaled 11.7 million cwt, up 1% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 38,100 acres, up 1% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 37,100 acres, was up 1% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $479 million, 11% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 11.7 million cwt, of which 8.22 million cwt was for the fresh market and 171,808 tons for processing. In California, the summer turned very hot early, which quickly turned bad as fires ravaged through large portions of the state burning cropland and producing a thick layer of smoke blocking the sun for months. Some producers had to divert peppers intended for fresh market to processors as state lockdowns caused stoppages in the supply chain.

    Spinach: Total production in 2020 totaled 7.23 million cwt, down 24% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 56,800 acres, down 14% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 56,200 acres, was also down 14% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $439 million, 28% less than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 7.23 million cwt, of which 6.45 million cwt was for the fresh market and 39,204 tons for processing. In California, the largest producing State, the coastal regions experienced damaging cold temperatures in early spring, bringing yields down below last year. Acreage decreased after some growers responded to a drop in demand by plowing under their fields.

    Sweet potatoes: Total production in 2020 totaled 30.7 million cwt, down 4% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 158,000 acres, up 7% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 156,800 acres, was up 7% from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $726 million, 10% more than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 30.6 million cwt, of which 23.9 million cwt was for the fresh market and 331,638 tons for processing.

    Tomatoes: Total production in 2020 totaled 241 million cwt, up 1% from 2019. Planted area was estimated at 280,000 acres, down 1% from the previous year. Area harvested, estimated at 272,900 acres, was down slightly from 2019. The value of the crop totaled $1.66 billion, 4% more than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 239 million cwt, of which 12.6 million cwt was for the fresh market and 11.3 million tons for processing. In California, there were no major issues during planting, but higher than average temperatures in late spring affected early crop yields. Inconsistent weather patterns throughout the growing season prompted short interruptions in the flow of ripe tomatoes. Wildfires that raged through the state in late summer and early fall slowed the processing tomato harvest. Crop quality varied by region and disease pressure was low. Due to a lack of rain, water availability continued to be a concern.

    For more agricultural statistics, visit www.nass.usda.gov.

  • USDA Measures Vegetable Chemical Usage

    Interviewers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will interview more than 160 Washington and Oregon vegetable growers in order to gather information for the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey this fall.

    The survey will collect information on pesticides used, acres treated and rates applied to seven targeted vegetable crops. In addition to Northwest producers, vegetable growers in 14 other states will also hear from NASS, as the agency collects comprehensive U.S. vegetable production practices information.

    “Participation in the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey is vital to all participants in this key agricultural sector,” said Christopher Mertz, director of the Northwest Regional Office. “Responses from vegetable growers will help ensure that chemicals critical to crop production remain available on the market.”

    Survey response is protected by federal law (Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347), which keeps respondent identity and answers confidential.

    Survey results will be published online in NASS’s Quick Stats database next year. This database and all NASS reports are available on the agency’s website: nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northwest Regional Office at 1-800- 435-5883. 

  • CDFA Prune Handlers Annual Report

    California Department of Food & Agriculture — Prunes produced by handlers in 2019 totaled 9,791 tons, down from the 10,728 tons reported in 2018. This figure does NOT include prunes purchased from other handlers or producers.

    The total 2019 prune crop purchased from producers, for whom pricing had been finalized, reached 38,336 tons at an average price of $1,456 per ton, down significantly from the $1,715/ton average of 2018. This price is rounded to the nearest dollar per ton and includes all bonuses and allowances.

    Purchases from producers, for whom pricing was NOT finalized, totaled 39,828 tons. The average “good faith” estimate of the final weighted average price for this tonnage was $2,133 per ton.

    The quantity of all prunes purchased from producers was 78,164 tons for the 2019 crop. This figure does not include prunes produced by the handler or purchased from other handlers. The weighted average size count of tons purchased from producers was 57 for the French varieties and 58 for the Non-French varieties.

    The tonnage produced by the handler plus tonnage purchased from producers for the 2019 prune crop was 86,879 tons of French prunes and 1,077 tons of Non-French prunes for a total of 87,956 tons.

    Information contained in this report was supplied by prune handlers to fulfill reporting requirements of Sections 55601.7 and 55601.8 of the Food and Agricultural Code. The report includes all tonnages of prunes that were either produced by the handler or purchased from producers. The final weighted average price, including bonuses and allowances, has been reported for all contracts which were finalized.

    All 2019 crop transactions completed through the close of business on August 31, 2020 are included in this report. A “good faith” estimate of final weighted average price was reported for those contracts which were not final on the same date. The data are shown by major varieties at the State level only.

    DEFINITIONS

    Producer: A person or operator who is responsible for the prunes in the unprocessed state. A dehydrator operator is considered the producer of prunes if they grew or purchased fresh prunes and dehydrated them.

    Handler: Firm that processes and markets prunes.

    Finalized Purchases: Tonnage purchased from producers, for which a pricing contract has been completed.

    Non-Finalized Purchases: Contracted tonnage, for which a final price has not yet been determined.

    Free Tonnage: Tonnage received by a handler, for which the only Federal marketing order regulation is a minimum quality or size standard. Reserve tonnage is the tonnage set aside as authorized by a Federal marketing order.

    Weighted Average Price: Weighted average price reflects prices or “good faith” estimates of prices as reported by handlers and include any bonuses or allowances. 

  • New California Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey

    USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Field Office conducted the Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey for the first time this year. A sample of 271 Tango, W. Murcott Afourer, and White Murcott Mandarin varieties were randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage. Initial results show an average fruit set of 945 fruit per tree and an average fruit size of 1.49 inches in diameter for these varieties. Because this is a new survey, a production forecast will be not be made for at least three years.

    Fruit counts were made from two trees per orchard, and fruit diameter measurements were taken on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two sampled trees.

    California Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey Results, October 1, 2020
    County Number of samples Average set per tree Average diameter (inches)
    Fresno 31 1,378 1.57
    Kern 66 1,005 1.52
    Madera 34 694 1.34
    Tulare 132 912 1.48
    Other1 8 367 1.57
    State Survey Avg. 271 945 1.49

    1Other includes Imperial, Riverside, and Ventura counties.

    This and all NASS Pacific Regional reports are available at www.nass.usda.gov/ca. For more information, contact the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • USDA to Survey Fruit Growers about Chemical Use

    In the next few weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey fruit growers in 12 states, including California, for its biennial Fruit Chemical Use Survey. Growers across the nation will provide information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, fertilizer types, and application rates for more than 21 fruit crops.

    “Growers benefit from providing this information because it is used to re-register products for their use, to illustrate the industry’s environmental practices, and to assure the quality of U.S. food to consumers here and around the world,” said Gary Keough, director of the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office, “I encourage every grower to take the time to respond if they receive this survey.”

    The Fruit Chemical Use Survey will provide much needed information about the current crop production practices used in the United States. The results of this survey will paint a detailed picture of pesticide use and other pest management practices used by the fruit growers across the nation. To conduct the survey, NASS representatives will contact selected California growers to arrange in-person interviews. The results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.

    Survey results will be published in NASS’s online database, Quick Stats, in July 2020. This database and all NASS reports are available on the agency’s web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.