i Vegetable supplies drop, prices should
UTITZ This summer’s
outlook for and
processed vegetables is
highlighted by smaller
supplies and higher prices
than a year ago
Production of fresh
vegetables is expected to be
down two percent from 1979
levels; melon production
will be about five percent
smaller. The smaller crops
are resulting from less
planted acreage for both
fresh and processed
vegetables.
Despite large carryover
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR POWER FAILURES?
WE HAVE A "SENSIBLY PRICED BRUSHLESS
ALTERNATOR" FOR THE SENSIBLE FARMER.
Model Selection Chart
Model
No.
15LR1
25LR1
35LR1
45LR1
55LR1
85LR1
MARTIN MACHINERY
ERWIN W. ZIMMERMAN M &M BARN SALES CARL SENSENIG
Rt. 1 R.D. 1 West Garden Rd., Rt. 6
Martmsburg, Pa. 16662 Westfield, Pa. 16950 Bridgeton, NJ 08302
814-793-3954 814-334-5504 or 814-848-9818 609-696-8173
stocks, smaller packs of
processed vegetables will
result in total supplies
moderately below last year’s
levels. Most of the important
vegetable-producing areas
have not been affected by the
hot, dry conditions that have
stressed crops in other
areas.
Fresh vegetable prices
rose m the spring quarter
from low levels caused by
last winter’s large supplies
The second quarter index of
farm prices of commercial
vegetables for fresh maket
THUNDER SHOWER ACTIVITIES.
,% 4/
Momentary Surge
Watts
15,000
25,000
35,000
45,000
55,000
85,000
P.O. Box 35, Martindale, Pa. 17549
SALES REP.
WAYNE MARTIN
RD 5, Danville, PA 17821
717-672-9365
registered 232 (1967=100),
compared with 202 in the
first quarter and 206 last
year.
The index of fresh
vegetable prices is expected
to decline seasonally with
the new summer crops
during the third quarter but
will remain slightly to
moderately above. year
earher levels.
In response to last year’s
large supplies and low
prices, growers and
processors decreased their
acreage of major processing
Minimum
Required HP
Watts
45,000
75,000
105,000
135,000
165,000
255,000
DISTRIBUTOR:
215-445-4800 or 267-7771
DEALERS:
Volts
120/240
120/240
120/240
120/240
120/240
120/240
130
vegetables abput 14 percent
this year.
All major processing
vegetables showed, declines
except spring spinach, which
was up 17 percent.
Decreases m other crops
ranged from 23 percent for
lima beans to eight percent
for winter spinach.
If average yields are
realized, the total contracted
tonnage will be substantially
small than last year,
resulting in moderately to
substantially smaller sup
plies of canned and frozen
Phase
C.B.
Amps
Wire
100
150
175
225
350
SALES REP.
RAY GALLETTE
RD 3, Box 106
Cochranton, PA 16314
814-425-2206
BYLER'S DIESEL & MARLIN ROSENBERRY
REFG. SHOP 7021 Angle Rd.
Star Route 655 Chambersburg, Pa
Belleville, Pa. 17004 717-375-4310
Drivers Ph. 717-483-6446
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16,1980—£
vegetables This, along with
increased processing and
marketing costs, will push
prices to levels substantially
above a year ago.
Per capita use of fresh
market vegetables and
melons increased to 124.5
pounds in 1979, up two
percent from 1978. Fresh
vegetable consumption rose
to 103.8 pounds per person
up from nearly 100.3 pounds
in 1978 more than off
setting a slight dip in melon
consumption.
These changes resulted
iroximate Wt
Net Lbs
Ship Lbs.
425
490
475
500
580
600
730
670
730
750
795
860
jump
primarily from last year’s
larger vegetable production,
lower prices, and a slight
decrease in melon
production.
Imports of fresh
vegetables decreased
slightly while melon imports
were up a little. Both canned
and frozen vegetable con
sumption also increased m
1979 because of ample
supplies and low prices for
most items.
Consumption of canned
vegetables rose to 55.8
pounds per person in 1979,
and consumption of frozen
vegetables rose to a new
high of 28.4 pounds per
person.
Excluding potatoes, the
most popular fresh
vegetables m 1979 were
lettuce, at 26 pounds per
person; tomatoes, at 12.7
pounds; and omons, at 11.8
pounds.
Tomatoes and tomato
products are the most im
portant canned vegetables,
with a per capita con
sumption of 23.9 pounds in
1979. Frozen potato
products, at 18.1 pounds per
person (product weight
basis), were the leading
frozen vegetable.
The summer potato crop
for 1980 is estimated at a
record low 18.7 million cwt.
This smaller crop has
triggered higher prices, and
has begun to pull the potato
industry out of its two-year
slump. Potato prices are
expected to rise further this
fall. Acreage for harvest'of
fall potatoes is the smallest
in the past 15 years.
In addition, the crop may
be adversely affected by
drought conditions in the
important producing area of
the Red River Valley in
Minnesota and North
Dakota. If average yields
are obtained and the fall
crop is substantially smaller
than a year ago, U.S.
average grower prices can
be expected to be sub
stantially above the $3.47 per
cwt average in 1979.
The U.S. area of dry beans
is a quarter larger than m
1979. Increases were spurred
by generally good export
markets and sizable 1980
export contracts with
Mexico. If export markets
hold up, prices for the 1980
crop will average about the
same as a year earlier.
•n»rgy resource centers i
458-8011
181