SOUTH CAROLINA VEGETABLE AND MELON ACREAGE UP

Columbia, S.C., February 2, 2005: South Carolina’s harvested fresh market vegetable and melon acreage for 6 major crops totaled 15,900 for the 2004 crop year according to USDA NASS, South Carolina Statistical Office. Total acreage was up slightly from 2003’s acreage of 15,800. Fresh market snap beans acreage for harvest was estimated at 1,000 acres, down 23 percent from 1,300 acres in 2003. Harvested acreage for fresh market cucumbers was 2,000 acres, up 5 percent from the previous year. Harvested acreage of fresh market tomatoes at 3,500 acres was up 6 percent from the 2003 acreage. Harvested acreage for cantaloups was 1,100 acres, down 8 percent from the previous year. Squash harvested acreage was 1,300 acres, up 18 percent from the previous year. Watermelon acreage for harvest was set at 7,000 acres, unchanged from the previous year.

South Carolina’s contracted cucumbers for pickles acreage for 2004 was set at 4,000 harvested acres, unchanged from 2003, but up 8 percent from 2002’s 3,700 acres.

For the 2004 crop year, South Carolina was ranked in the top 10 in the total production of the following vegetables: 6^th in fresh market tomatoes, 7^th in watermelons, 7^th in cantaloups, 10^th in cucumbers and snap beans, and 11^th on squash.

UNITED STATES VEGETABLE ACREAGE

Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2004 totaled 485 million hundredweight, up 3 percent from the previous year. Harvested area covered 1.95 million acres, 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 watermelons, 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.

For additional information call:

                                       Robert A. Graham, State Director

                                       Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician