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Cooler temperatures are helping put the finishing touches on the Texas spinach crop
College Station, Texas
December 2, 2003

from Texas Crop, Wheather Report
Texas A&M University

Cooler temperatures are helping put the finishing touches on the Texas spinach crop, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

A warmer-than-usual fall made for a less-than-ideal growing season, said Jose Peña, Extension economist in Uvalde.

"The recent warm weather with high humidity caused above-average disease incidence in the crop," he said. The warm weather has also contributed to unusually heavy worm problems throughout the region.

But "the recent cool weather should reduce disease problems, improve quality and increase yields," Peña said.

The freeze that occurred a week ago was both beneficial and detrimental to the spinach, said Marcelino Valdez, Extension agent in Zavala County. "Fresh market spinach quality is fair due to a good freeze that we had in the region about a week ago."

On the plus side, the region has experienced considerably less problems with insects, he said.

Ideal growing conditions include cool, sunny days with adequate soil moisture.

The spinach currently harvested is being sold on the fresh market. Farmers started planting the spinach in late September.

"There are about 1,500 acres of fresh market spinach, and a little over 2,500 acres of processed spinach planted in this area," said Valdez.

"The difference between fresh market and processed spinach is mainly in the leaves. Fresh market spinach leaves are crinkly, whereas processed spinach leaves are more flat and smooth," Pena said.

Most of the spinach in the state is grown in the Winter Garden in Southwest Texas, Pena said.

"Spinach planting in Southwest Texas normally begins in late September, with planting staggered from fall through late winter," Pena said. "This is so we have steady spinach supplies starting from around the middle of November through mid-March."

Currently, yields are slightly lower than last year. Despite this, farmers should be pleased with prices.

"Prices for spinach for the fresh market have been slightly above last year. Prices for the spinach for the processed market are about the same as last year," Peña said.

"Processed spinach is currently selling for about $78 per ton, whereas fresh market spinach is selling for about $10 per 30-pound plastic container," Pena said.

Texas leads the nation in fresh spinach production, but falls second behind California in processed spinach production.

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