1997 VEGETABLE SUMMARY



     The value of Virginia's major fresh market vegetable crops totaled 64.1 million dollars from 19,200 harvested acres in 1997. This compared with 43.4 million dollars from 18,600 acres in 1996. The sharp increase in value of production for vegetable crops was mostly from tomatoes which rose from 29.4 million in 1996 to 44.1 million dollars in 1997.

    The value of major vegetables grown for processing in Virginia totaled 935 thousand dollars, down 67 percent from last year. Harvested acreage of processing vegetables was down 55 percent from the previous year. A generally dry growing season during 1997 made it necessary for many producers to irrigate vegetables. .

Principal Vegetables For Fresh Market, 1997
Crops Planted Acres Harvested Acres Yield Cwt Production 1,000 Cwt Value
Dollars
Per Cwt
Total
1,000 Dollars
Tomatoes 3,400 3,300 395 1,304 33.80 44,075
Snap Beans 6,000 5,200 35 182 18.40 3,349
Cabbage 1,400 1,300 335 436 8.00 3,488
Sweet Corn 2,700 2,100 28 59 17.80 1,050
Cucumbers 6,000 5,600 125 700 11.50 8,050
Bell Peppers 2,000 1,700 85 145 28.00 4,060
Total 21,500 19,200 2,826 64,072


Principal Vegetables for Processing , 1997

Crop
Planted
Acres
Harvested
Acres
Production
Tons
Total Value
1,000 Dollars

Total 1/
1,910 1,850 7,990 935
1/ Includes snap beans, cabbage for kraut, cucumbers for pickles, and tomatoes.


Planting and Harvesting Dates and Principal Producing Counties or Areas
Crop Seasonal Group Usual Planting Dates Usual Harvesting Dates
Principal Producing Counties or Acres
Begins Most Active Ends
Asparagus Spring
Feb.1 - Mar. 15
Apr. 10
May 1 - May 31
June  10
Northampton
Lima Beans Fall
Mar. 20 - Jul. 31
Aug. 1
Aug. 20 - Oct. 10 
Oct. 31
Accomack, Northampton
Snap Beans Summer
Mar. 20 - Jun. 30
June 1
Jun. 10 - Jul. 31
Sept. 30
Accomack, Northampton,
Chesapeake, Virginia Beach,
Carroll, Floyd, Washington

Snap Beans Fall
Jul. 1 - Aug. 31
Sept. 1
Sep. 20 - Oct. 31
Nov. 15
Accomack, Northampton,
Chesapeake,
City of Virginia Beach
Cabbage Summer
Apr. 1 - Jun. 15
June 1
Jul. 15 - Aug. 31
Sept. 15
Accomack, Carroll,
Northampton, Wythe,
James City, Chesapeake,
Virginia Beach

Cabbage Fall
Jul. 15 - Aug. 31
Oct. 15
Nov. 15 - Dec. 15
Jan. 15
Accomack, Northampton,
Chesapeake, Virginia Beach
Sweet Corn Summer
Mar. 25 - May 10
Jun. 25
Jul. 1 - Jul. 31
Sep. 15
Northampton, Hanover,
Chesapeake, Virginia Beach
Cucumbers Summer Apr. 1 - May 15 Jun. 15 Jul. 1 - Jul. 31 Aug. 25
Accomack, Northampton,
Chesapeake, Virginia Beach
Cucumbers Fall Jul. 10 - Aug. 15 Sep. 1 Sep. 15 - Oct. 15 Nov. 10
Accomack, Northampton,
Chesapeake, Virginia Beach
Green Peas Spring Mar. 5 - Apr. 15 May 20 May 25 - June 10 June 15 Accomack
Spinach Spring
Oct. 15 - Mar. 31
Mar. 20
Apr. 1 - May 5
May 31
Accomack, Northampton,
Suffolk, Chesapeake,
Virginia Beach
Spinach Fall Aug. 15 - Sept. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 30 - Dec. 31 Jan. 31
Accomack, Northampton,
Suffolk, Chesapeake
Virginia Beach
Tomatoes Summer
Apr. 5 - May 10
June 25
July 1 - Aug. 10
Aug. 31
Accomack, Northampton,
Lancaster, Richmond,
Westmoreland

Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service . (800) 772-0670