2004 Fresh Market vegetable production up 3 percent from 2003

According to figures released by the US Department of Agriculture, fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2004 totalled 485 million hundredweight (approx 24 million tonnes), up 3 percent from the previous year. Harvested area covered 1.95 million acres (approx 800,000 hectares), up 1 percent from 2003. Value of the 2004 crop was estimated at 9.82 billion dollars, down less than 1 percent from a year ago. The three largest crops, in terms of production, were onions, head lettuce, and watermelon, which combined to account for 39 percent of the total production. Tomatoes, head lettuce, and onions claimed the highest values, accounting for 34 percent of the total value when combined. For the 24 selected vegetables and melons estimated in 2004, California continued to be the leading fresh market State, accounting for 43 percent of the harvested area, 49 percent of production, and 53 percent of the value.