Vegetables and Pulses Outlook. (Updated September 27, 2012).

摘要

Reduced shipments have relieved some downward pressure on fresh vegetable prices from early 2012, although prices for most vegetables still remain below levels from the previous year. Even with the realization of a hotter and drier summer than normal, volume remains above 2011 levels. Production of tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, and green peas for processing under contract is expected to increase in 2012. Among the four commodities, only snap beans are expected to have a decrease in contract area harvested; although total production would not decline if anticipated yields are realized. The potato crop in 2012 is expected to expand by close to 7 percent. While much of the potato area is dry this year, conditions are not as hot as other parts of the country and there is a 5.4-percent increase in anticipated harvested acreage. Volume of mushroom production was an all-time high of 900 million pounds in 2011/12 with a farm value of $1.1 billion. The long-term trend of greater consumer use of fresh mushrooms relative to processed mushrooms is reflected in both production and import trends over the past 20 years.