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February 7, 2001
Geneva, New York
The buzz at the New York State Vegetable Growers Association meeting in
Syracuse next week is going to be about money. New York growers are reporting a $63 million
increase in the value of their crops for 2000.
"The value of NYS vegetables rose from $255 million in 1999 to $378 million in 2000," says
Steven Reiners, associate professor in horticultural sciences at Cornell University. "Of the
increase, $63 million represents an increase in production, and $60 million is due to the inclusion
of six new crops previously not included in the NYS Ag & Market's annual report."
The six new crops-pumpkins, squash, peppers, eggplant, spinach and escarole/endive-accounted
for an additional $60 million of the total, according to Reiners. The NYS Vegetable Growers
Association urged that these vegetables be included to better represent the true size of the
industry.
"The news was especially welcome after growers struggled with a cool, wet season that delayed
plantings, slowed maturity and interfered with harvest," says Reiners, who works at the New
York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Despite the problems, acreage increased
by about 10 percent from 1999, rising to 170,000 acres, split about equally between fresh market
and processed crops.
The New York State vegetable industry is continuing expansion that began in the early 1990s.
Since that time acreage has increased by about 30 percent and value has more than doubled.
With these additional figures, New York now ranks 5th in the nation for fresh market vegetable
production and 7th for processing.
Table 1. Value and acreage of New York fresh market vegetables, 2000.
| Crop |
Value
(million$) |
Planted
acres |
| Cabbage |
79.6 |
13,400 |
| Sweet Corn |
56.4 |
32,300 |
| Onions |
52.6 |
13,400 |
| Snap Beans |
31.5 |
8,600 |
| Tomatoes |
30.7 |
3,300 |
| Pumpkins |
26.3 |
6,700 |
| Cucumbers |
20.3 |
3,900 |
| Squash |
17.2 |
3,500 |
| Peppers |
7.1 |
800 |
| Cauliflower |
4.1 |
1,100 |
| Eggplant |
3.7 |
550 |
| Spinach |
3.2 |
700 |
| Endive/Escarole |
2.6 |
300 |
| TOTAL |
335.3 |
88,550 |
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Table 2. Value and acreage of New York processed vegetables, 2000.
| Crop |
Value
(million$) |
Planted
acres |
| Snap
beans |
17.2 |
28,800 |
| Sweet
corn |
11.6 |
30,700 |
| Peas |
6.7 |
16,500 |
| Kraut
cabbage |
4.1 |
2,800 |
| Beets |
2.4 |
2,600 |
| TOTAL |
42.0 |
81,400 |
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The figures do not include values for potatoes, estimated at approximately $60 million, or carrots,
lettuce and broccoli, estimated at about $10 million. When these commodities are factored in, the
actual value of New York vegetable crops approaches $450 million.
The industry has also increased the level of funding they provide for research. In 1999, green pea
growers began a crop assessment and, in 2000, cabbage growers started their own research and
development fund. These funds, along with money already contributed by potato, onion, fresh
market and processed vegetable growers and industry, will account for more than $350,000 for
vegetable research in 2001.
"At a time when many states report declines in their vegetable industries, and other commodities
in New York are facing tough times, the continued strength of the New York State vegetable
industry is extremely encouraging," says Reiners.
The NYS Vegetable Conference runs Feb. 13-15, at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in
Liverpool, NY. Hours are 8 am-4:30 pm on Feb. 13; 8 am-5:30 pm on Feb. 14; and 8 am-5 pm
on Feb. 15. The public is welcome to attend. Registration at the door is $40/daywhich includes a
copy of the conference proceedings and lunch. Proceedings are also available from the NYS
Vegetable Growers for $10, by contacting nysvga@clarityconnect.com or calling 607-539-7648.
Contact:
Linda McCandless,
Director
Communications Services
NYS Agricultural Experiment Station
Jordan Hall 30 North Street
Geneva, NY 14456-0462
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/
E-mail: llm3@cornell.edu
Tel: 315-787-2417
Fax: 315-787-2276
Company news release
N3301
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