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Florida Farm Commodities
Vegetables |
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Florida vegetable, melon, potato and berry farmers squeezed a record yield of more than 20,000 pounds of produce from a harvested acre during the 1996-97 season; and, aided by some increased prices, boosted their crop value by seven percent over the previous season.
Crop value climbed to $1.607 billion in 1996-97, highest since the $1.775 billion of the 1992-93 season, and seven percent more than the $1.506 billion of 1995-96.
Farmers harvested from only 332,600 acres in 1996-97, five percent less than the 351,100 acres the previous season, and the fewest acres since 265,100 in 1969-70.
Growers produced an average 20,074 pounds-per-acre in 1996-97, an increase of 1,228 pounds; and 6.5 percent more than 1995-96. It surpassed the previous yield record of 19,606 pounds-per-acre in 1992-93.
The total production of 6,676,700,000 pounds in 1996-97 kept Florida ranked No. 2 as the nations supplier of fresh vegetables.
Florida farmers received price increases in seven of the 15 commodities that make up 98 percent of the states production.
Better prices for cabbage, sweet corn, cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelons helped boost the overall value of the crops.
Tomatoes remained the states leading commodity, making up 20.5 percent of the vegetable production with 1.3 billion pounds; and 28.7 percent of the value with sales of more than $462.6 million in 1996-97. Average tomato prices increased 7.5 percent in 1996-97, continuing a recovery from the price and value wrecking impact of NAFTA. The 1996-97 average price of $8.45 per 25-pound box, however, still remained considerably below the $8.81 price and $728.5 million value of pre-NAFTA seasons.
Bell peppers, strawberries, sweet corn and potatoes rounded out the top-5 Florida commodities in 1996-97.
Bell peppers made the most significant recovery in 1996-97, increasing yields by 273 bushels per acre (29.1 percent), production by three million pounds (15.7 percent), price by $0.29 a bushel (2.9 percent) and value by $45 million (24.3 percent), all on 5.2 percent less acreage than the previous season.
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Vegetable Production and Value --- 1996-97 Crop Year
|
Crop
|
Harvested Acres
|
Production (pounds)
|
Crop Value
|
|
Tomatoes
Bell Peppers
Strawberries
Corn (Sweet)
Potatoes
|
37,300
19,000
6,100
42,100
42,100
|
1,368,800,000
643,600,000
176,900,000
584,700,000
831,380,000
|
$462,526,000
$230,925,000
$146,119,000
$123,762,000
$97,671,000
|
|
Cucumbers
Beans (Snap)
Watermelon
Cabbage
Squash
|
9,000
28,700
30,000
8,000
8,500
|
284,600,000
118,500,000
750,000,000
298,500,000
101,800,000
|
$58,982,000
$58,039,000
$54,750,000
$42,745,000
$28,246,000
|
|
Radishes
Carrots
Eggplant
Escarole
Blueberries
|
10,600
6,500
1,800
1,600
1,300
|
54,100,000
120,300,000
51,300,000
29,000,000
2,400,000
|
$17,840,000
$16,366,000
$13,399,000
$6,938,000
$6,005,000
|
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Others
|
79,900 |
127,840,000 |
$244,174,000 |
|
Total
|
332,600 |
6,676,700,000 |
$1,607,758,000 |
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Vegetables Year-by-Year
|
Crop Year
|
Harvested Acres
|
Production (pounds)
|
Crop Value
|
|
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
|
332,600
351,100
358,100
373,529
379,655
|
6,676,700,000
6,616,500,000
6,732,000,000
7,295,900,000
6,829,500,000
|
$1,607,758,000
$1,506,721,000
$1,511,713,000
$1,581,948,000
$1,775,502,000
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|
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
|
379,655
356,910
367,380
404,650
404,700
|
7,443,705,000
6,278,700,000
6,579,400,000
6,646,100,000
7,010,400,000
|
$1,785,509,000
$1,653,912,000
$1,331,535,000
$1,591,111,000
$1,329,701,000
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1979-80
1969-70
1959-60
|
397,100
265,100
279,550
|
N/A
2,923,700,000
2,996,300,000
|
$788,890,000
$199,639,000
$134,408,000
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Source: Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
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Carrots 
|
Crop Year
|
Harvested Acres
|
Yield (cwt)
|
Production (cwt)
|
Value (cwt)
|
Crop Value
|
|
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
|
6,500
5,600
5,800
7,700
7,800
|
185
150
140
115
170
|
1,203,000
840,000
812,000
886,000
1,325,000
|
$13.60
$14.90
$20.90
$12.70
$16.90
|
$16,361,000
$12,516,000
$16,971,000
$11,252,000
$22,409,000
|
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1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
|
9,000
9,000
7,200
9,400
12,200
|
145
115
150
100
97
|
1,305,000
1,035,000
1,080,000
940,000
1,183,000
|
$15.50
$21.80
$16.30
$16.00
$11.40
|
$20,228,000
$22,563,000
$17,604,000
$15,040,000
$13,486,000
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CWT=100 pounds
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Eggplant Production and Value 
|
Crop Year
|
Harvested Acres
|
Yield (bushel)
|
Production (bushel)
|
Value (bushel)
|
Crop Value
|
|
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
|
1,800
2,100
2,300
2,400
2,000
|
863
694
652
834
737
|
1,554,000
1,458,000
1,500,000
2,001,000
1,474,000
|
$8.62
$9.02
$9.00
$9.35
$7.57
|
$13,399,000
$13,146,000
$13,500,000
$18,717,000
$11,164,000
|
|
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
|
2,440
1,950
1,950
2,000
2,100
|
853
806
815
810
668
|
2,174,000
1,571,000
1,589,000
1,619,000
1,403,000
|
$7.91
$8.26
$8.52
$7.05
$7.31
|
$17,186,000
$12,974,000
$13,537,000
$11,413,000
$10,253,000
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Bushel = 33 pounds
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Escarole Production and Value
|
Crop Year
|
Harvested Acres
|
Yield (crate)
|
Production (crate)
|
Value (crate)
|
Crop Value
|
|
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
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1,600
2,300
1,600
2,600
2,500
2,800
|
727
597
694
437
468
580
|
1,373,000
1,373,000
1,111,000
1,136,000
1,169,000
1,624,000
|
$5.96
$4.70
$10.10
$5.20
$6.73
$4.84
|
$6,938,000
$6,449,000
$11,223,000
$5,991,000
$7,872,000
$7,868,000
|
Crate = 25 pounds
Source: Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
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Radishes 
|
Crop Year
|
Harvested Acres
|
Yield (crate)
|
Production (crate)
|
Value (crate)
|
Crop Value
|
|
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
|
10,600
12,400
15,700
17,400
23,800
22,800
|
340
390
256
273
261
269
|
3,604,000
4,836,000
4,019,000
4,750,000
6,212,000
6,130,000
|
$4.95
$4.14
$5.94
$4.45
$5.95
$3.52
|
$17,840,000
$20,021,000
$23,873,000
$25,888,000
$36,961,000
$21,578,000
|
Crate = 15 pounds
Source: Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
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Vegetable Planting and Harvesting Dates
| Crop |
Planting Dates |
Usual Harvesting Dates |
|
|
Begin |
Most Active |
End |
| Beans (Snap) |
August 15 - April 1 |
October 15 |
November 1 - May 1 |
June 15 |
| Cabbage |
September 1 - March 15 |
October 25 |
January 1 - April 15 |
June 15 |
| Carrots |
August 15 - February 15 |
November 1 |
December 15 - May 25 |
June 10 |
| Cantaloupes |
January 15 - March 15 |
March 10 |
May 15 - June 20 |
July 10 |
| Cauliflower |
September 15 - January 1 |
December 15 |
January 1 - March 15 |
April 15 |
| Celery |
August 1 - April 15 |
October 25 |
December 15 - June 1 |
July 10 |
| Chinese Cabbage |
September 1 - April 1 |
October 20 |
November 15 - May 15 |
June 1 |
| Sweet Corn |
July 25 - May 10 |
September 25 |
November 15 - June 15 |
July 15 |
| Cucumbers |
August 1 - April 1 |
September 20 |
November 1- December 15 April 20 - June 1 |
July 1 |
| Eggplant |
July 15 - April 1 |
October 1 |
November 15 - May 25 |
August 1 |
| Escarole Endive |
August 25 - April 1 |
October 20 |
November 15 - May 25 |
June 1 |
| Lettuce Romaine |
August 25 - April 1 |
October 20 |
December 1 - May 1 |
June 1 |
| Parsley |
August 25 - April 1 |
October 20 |
November 15 - May 25 |
June 1 |
| Green Peppers |
August 1 - March 15 |
October 20 |
November 15 - June 15 |
July 1 |
| Potatoes |
September 15 - March 1 |
December 26 |
February 1 - June 1 |
July 1 |
| Radishes |
September 1 - May 15 |
September 20 |
November 15 - May 1 |
June 15 |
| Spinach |
November 1 - January 1 |
January 15 |
February 1 - March 1 |
March 15 |
| Squash |
August 15 - April 1 |
September 1 |
November 15 - May 15 |
July 1 |
| Strawberries |
October 1 - November 15 |
December 15 |
February 1 - April 1 |
May 15 |
| Tomatoes |
August 1 - March 15 |
October 15 |
November 15 - June 1 |
July 1 |
| Watermelons |
December 15 - April 1 |
April 1 |
May 1 - July 1 |
July 15 |
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Florida State Vegetable Markets
| Markets |
Address |
Manager / Telephone |
Arcadia
Farmers Market |
P.O. Box 1418
Arcadia, Florida 33821 |
Diana Durrance
(941) 773-9850 |
Bonifay
Farmers Market |
P.O. Box 716, Highway 90
Bonifay, Florida 32425 |
Jim Warner
(850) 547-2540 |
Florida City
Farmers Market |
300 North Krome Avenue
Florida City, Florida 33034 |
Paul Caldwell
(305) 246-6335 |
Fort Myers
Farmers Market |
2744 Edison Avenue
Fort Myers, Florida 33916 |
Clad Brockett
(941) 332-6910 |
Fort Pierce
Farmers Market |
3479 South Federal Highway
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982 |
Pete Serra
(561) 468-3917 |
Gadsden
Farmers Market |
18212 Memorial Blue Star Hwy
Quincy, Florida 32351 |
Jim Warner
(850) 627-6484 |
Immokalee
Farmers Market |
424 New Market Road
Immokalee, Florida 33934 |
Jerry Hubbard
(941) 658-3505 |
Palatka
Farmers Market |
225 Highway 17 South
East Palatka, Florida 32131 |
Terry Driggers
(904) 329-3713 |
Plant City
Farmers Market |
1305 W. Martin Luther King
Plant City, Florida 33564 |
Melton Godwin
(813) 757-9027 |
Pompano
Farmers Market |
1255 Atlantic Blvd.
Pompano Beach, Florida 33069 |
Paul Cardwell
(954) 946-6570 |
Sanford
Farmers Market |
1300-A South French Avenue
Sanford, Florida 32771 |
Peter Hirst
(407) 330-6783 |
Starke
Farmers Market |
2222 North Temple Highway
Starke, Florida 32091 |
Terry Driggers
(904) 964-6951 |
Suwannee Valley
Farmers Market |
2758 County Road 136
White Springs, Florida 32096 |
Jay Thomas
(904) 963-5903 |
Trenton
Farmers Market |
830 NE State Road 47
Trenton, Florida 32693 |
Terry Digger
(352) 463-3142 |
Wauchula
Farmers Market |
661-A South 6th Avenue
Wauchula, Florida 33873 |
Diana Durrance
(941) 773-9850 |
Click here to visit the Florida State Farmers' Markets web site.
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