E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Marisa Reuber
Monday, January 26, 2009

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                  NEW YORK STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION DECREASES
                 AND BLUEBERRY PRODUCTION REMAINS UNCHANGED

Strawberry production in New York was down 2 percent from 2007 to 4.50
million pounds, according to Stephen Ropel, Director of USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service, New York office.  The value of utilized
production is estimated at $7.43 million, down 2 percent from the $7.59
million in 2007.  New York ranks ninth in strawberry production.
Nationally, the strawberry crop for 2008 was placed at 2.53 billion pounds,
up 4 percent from 2007.

Production of blueberries for the Empire State was at 2.50 million pounds.
The 2008 crop is valued at $4.11 million, a 22 percent increase from $3.37
million in 2007.  The U.S. estimate for blueberries is 349 million pounds,
up 22 percent from 2007.

The combined value of New York’s berry crop totaled $11.5 million.  This
compares with $11.0 million in 2007.  The information in this release is
available by free email subscription by subscribing to New York reports at
www.nass.usda.gov/ny.

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1-26-09