This report reflects conditions as of January 1 and represents acreage for harvest during the winter months of January, February, March. Estimated acreage for harvest by growing areas is presented in order: area, previous year (1998), current year (1999).

WEATHER: Hot temperatures persisted during October, November, and most of December. Mostly dry weather during October helped crops recover from the winds and rains of late September, and increased the need for irrigation. In early November, strong winds from Tropical Storm Mitch twisted foliage, and wind borne sand and heavy rain lowered the quality of crops nearing maturity in the East Coast, Immokalee and Everglades regions. Mostly dry weather followed the storm and continued through most of December which helped crops recover. The need for irrigation increased in early December although morning fog provided some moisture to developing plants. A cool snap after mid-December delayed some fruit maturation with some harvesting delayed a couple of days. However, balmy temperatures soon followed the cooler weather in late December along with an increase in showers. A cold front passing over the state at the end of December again cooled temperatures which slowed development of some crops. Freezing temperatures dipped into central and some southern Peninsula localities during early January. These cold temperatures damaged some squash and cucumbers around Immokalee with tomatoes suffering only minor leaf burn. Mature berries in the Plant City and Dover area were damaged by the icing of strawberry plants which saved the immature fruit and the plants.

TOMATOES: Dade County growers started planting by early October. Clearer skies and above normal temperatures during most of October helped plants recover from the earlier windy and rainy weather. Palmetto-Ruskin, East Coast, and southwestern producers began harvesting in late October. Gradeout ran slightly above normal for the early picks in the Immokalee region due to the earlier bad weather causing cracked shoulders. Gusty winds caused some bloom loss and scarred some young fruit in East Coast localities during late October. Tropical Storm Mitch brought significant rains and wind to the southern Peninsula during early November with fruit quality and yield prospects reduced in most localities. Hot and relatively dry weather during the rest of November and most of December boosted plant growth and fruit development in southern areas. Harvesting was delayed a couple of days during early November due to fields flooded by Mitch's rains. Strong winds in Dade County near mid-November caused some leaf burn but dried out ground flooded by the earlier storm. A labor shortage in the Palmetto-Ruskin region during early December delayed some picking. Producers in the Quincy area finished harvesting by mid-December. Dade County growers began picking a very light volume during late December. Cooler temperatures around mid-December and again at the end of the month slowed some fruit maturation which delayed picking for a couple of days. (Southwest, 6,400, 8,300; Dade, 3,000, 4,000; East Coast, 1,900, 2,200; all areas, 11,300, 14,500)

SNAP BEANS: Planting and harvest are both active. The crop is in good condition. Quality and color are good. (All areas, 11,500, 9,500)

STRAWBERRIES: Crop development proceeded at a faster pace than last season due to the warm fall weather. Harvest started near the first of December and had very few problems through the end of December with production ahead of last year. (All areas, 6,200, 6,200)

SWEET CORN: Rain and wind from tropical systems delayed planting in East Coast areas during the last half of September. Oldest plants in the Southwest were two to three inches high by early October. Zellwood and northern producers were harvesting by early to mid-October with the passage of Tropical Storm Mitch in early November causing some slight delays. Winds from Mitch, clocked at 70 miles per hour blew over or lodged some stalks in the Everglades and Dade County. However, dry weather following the storm allowed most acreage to recover. Everglades growers began picking by mid- November. East Coast producers started planting about mid-November. The oldest acreage in Dade County reached the tasseling stage during late November with ears starting to appear by early December. Zellwood and northern producers finished harvesting by early December. Southwestern growers began picking by mid-December. Cooler temperatures slowed some maturation after mid-December. Dade County producers began harvesting during the last half of December. (East Coast and Dade County, 5,100, 4,800; Everglades and other, 700, 1,300; all areas, 5,800, 6,100)

BELL PEPPER: Tropical waves, bringing abundant rain to the East Coast area, delayed fieldwork during mid-to-late September. Rain and strong winds from Hurricane Georges caused some bloom loss in southern Peninsula areas during the last week of September. Picking of fall crop acreage began in the East Coast region in early October as the oldest acreage started to set fruit around Immokalee. Palmetto-Ruskin producers finished fall crop planting by mid-October. West Central and southwestern growers started harvesting during late October and early November. Rain from the passage of Tropical Storm Mitch over the southern Peninsula in early November flooded fields and affected some quality with most plants recovering in the warm and mostly dry weather that followed the storm and persisted through early December. Cooler temperatures, arriving about mid-December, slightly slowed fruit maturation with some harvesting delayed a few days. (Southeast, 3,100, 3,100; Southwest and Central, 1,200, 1,900; all areas, 4,300, 5,000)

CABBAGE: Planting and harvest are active in all areas. Cooler weather after the first of the year has helped the crop produce better quality heads. (North, Hastings, 2,000, 1,900; other areas, 2,800, 1,100; all areas, 4,800, 3,000)

ESCAROLE-ENDIVE: Warm temperatures boosted growth during September and October. Tropical Storm Mitch blew sand on leaves with rain flooding some fields during early November in the Everglades region. Harvesting started during late November with some quality reduced by the storm. Warm and mostly dry weather during most of December helped improve quality. (All areas, 750, 800)

EGGPLANT: Weather and growing conditions have been mostly favorable for eggplant. Plants are producing good grades. Volume is light at the current time. (All areas, 800, 700)

    The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during the winter quarter is forecast at 199,700 acres. This is 3 percent above last year and 5 percent more than in 1997. Acreage increases in cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, escarole/endive, head lettuce, bell peppers, and tomatoes more than offset declines in snap beans, cabbage, eggplant, and spinach. Tomatoes, Bell peppers, and escarole/endive had the largest acreage increases, while snap beans, spinach, and eggplant showed the largest acreage decrease.

Selected Fresh Market Vegetables: Area for Harvest by Crop, State, and Total, Winter Season, 1997-99
Selected crops and States	Usual harvest period	Winter acreage			1999 area for harvest as percent of 1998
		Harvested		For harvest 1999
		1997	1998
		Acres			Percent
SNAP BEANS:
Florida	Jan-Mar	10,000	11,500	9,500	83
CABBAGE:
Florida	Jan-Mar	4,000	4,800	3,000	63
Texas	Jan-Mar	6,300	6,500	7,000	108
Total		10,300	11,300	10,000	88
SWEET CORN:
Florida	Jan-Mar	4,300	5,800	6,100	105
EGGPLANT:
Florida	Jan-Mar	700	800	700	88
ESCAROLE/ENDIVE:
Florida	Jan-Mar	600	750	800	107
BELL PEPPER: 1/
Florida	Jan-Mar	4,800	4,300	5,000	116
TOMATOES:
Florida	Jan-Mar	10,800	11,300	14,500	128
STRAWBERRIES 1/
Florida	Dec-May	6,100	6,200	6,200	100
CARROTS: 1/
California	Jan-Mar	23,000	21,000	22,000	105
Texas	Dec-Mar	2,400	2,300	2,800	122
Total		25,400	23,300	24,800	91
HEAD LETTUCE:
Arizona--Western	Nov-Apr	51,800	51,000	52,000	102
California	Jan-Mar	17,000	17,500	20,500	117
Total		68,800	68,500	72,500	106
BROCCOLI: 1/
California	Jan-Mar	30,000	30,500	30,300	99
CAULIFLOWER: 1/
California	Jan-Mar	9,500	9,500	9,800	103
CELERY: 1/
California	Jan-Mar	6,900	7,300	7,400	101
SPINACH:
Texas	Dec-Mar	2,400	2,500	2,100	84
TOTAL OF CROPS LISTED
Florida		41,300	45,450	45,800	101
United States		190,600	193,550	199,700	103
1/ Includes fresh market and processing.