Pumpkins: a commodity highlight - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service report

Situation and Outlook Report: Vegetables and Specialties, August, 1991 by Joan Pearrow, Charles Plummer

Table A-1--Pumpkins: Number of farms in States harvesting 1,000 acres or more, 1978, 1982, 1987

                         Farms
        State    1978     1982   1987
                        Number
California        267     195      241
Illinois          554     267      326
Indiana           188     199      240
Massachusetts     239     257      319
Michigan          362     345      524
Minnesota         256     149      252
New Jersey        338     343      442
New York          650     537      716
Ohio              323     351      429
Pennsylvania      446     480      635
Tennessee         117      79      101
Texas              50      65       81
Wisconsin         214     190      298
Other(1/)       1,728   1,734    2,317
U.S.            5,732   5,191    6,921

(1/)All other States with less than 1,000 acres. Source: Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce

Table A-2--Pumpkins: California acres harvested, yield per acre, production, and value, 1980-90

                    Yield
Year     Area        per    Production           Value
       harvested     acre      (1/)      Per pound      Total
         Acres      1,000     1,000       Cents        $ 1,000
                   pounds    pounds
1980     1,673       39.8     66,654       5.79         3,861
1981     2,049       45.8     93,922       4.55         4,270
1982     1,289       30.2     38,928      10.41         4,051
1983     1,449      33.8      48,948       7.85         3,843
1984     1,891       33.0     62,460       8.11         5,064
1985     2,607       29.6     77,180       6.25         4,820
1986     3,065       35.2    107,784       5.46         5,883
1987     4,252       38.5    163,490       3.26         5,327
1988     4,088       23.9     97,638       5.41         5,282
1989     3,572       30.4    108,554       4.02         4,362

(1/)Converted from tons. Source: California County Agricultural Commissioners' Annual Reports

Table A-5--Pumpkins, fresh market: Boston and San Francisco

retail price, October average, 1982-90

Year      Boston               San Francisco
                 Cents per pound
1982       19.2                      --
1983       20.6                      6.8
1984       22.3                      8.3
1985       14.3                      5.3
1986       18.5                      8.2
1987       24.0                      8.3
1988       --                        7.3
1989       33.0                     10.4
1990(1/)   29.0                     16.3

-- = Not available. (1/)Last half of the month average. Sources: California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture [Tables A-3, A-4 and A-6 to A-10 Omitted] [Figures A-1 to A-3 Omitted]

(2)A Specialized pumpkin farm is defined as a unit deriving 50 percent or more of its sales from pumpkins or a farm where pumpkins are the primary corp.

References

[1]Erler, C.T. Mini Pumpkins Are Hot Item. The Springfield Connection, p. 28, Mar. 1988. [2]United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Fruit and Vegetable Facts and Pointers, Pumpkins. Apr. 1970. [3]U.S. Department of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Information Service. Composition of Foods: Vegetables and Vegetable Products, Agr. Handbook 8-11. Rev. Aug. 1984. [4]Vance Publishing Corporation. The Packer, 1990 Produce Availability and Merchandising Guide. 1990 [5]Yamaguchi, Mas. World Vegetables: Principles, Production and Nutritive Values. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1983.