Mar 27, 2019

Oregon pumpkin crop value up 50 percent

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has published vegetable production statistics for the 2018 growing year in the Pacific Northwest.

Although production numbers for many crops were down at least slightly from 2017, there were a few areas of improvement: Idaho and Oregon sweet corn, Washington onions and especially Oregon pumpkins, which were valued at nearly $10 million, up 50 percent from the previous year.

Here are those statistics for different vegetable crops, as summarized in a press release from the NASS Northwest Regional Field Office in Olympia, Washington:

Asparagus value of utilized production in Washington totaled $26.2 million, down 2 percent from 2017. Washington accounted for 34 percent of national utilized production.

Green lima beans in Washington had a total value of utilized production of $2.54 million, down 26 percent from the previous year.

Snap beans in Oregon had a $23.6 million total value of utilized production, down 14 percent from 2017. Washington had a $7.86 million total value of utilized production, down 10 percent from last year. Oregon and Washington accounted for almost 10 percent of national utilized production.

Carrots in Washington showed a $20.0 million value of utilized production, down 37 percent from 2017. Washington accounted for 11 percent of national utilized production.

Sweet corn in Idaho had a total value of utilized production on $12.2 million, up 5 percent from last year. Oregon had a $44.5 million value of utilized production, up 23 percent from 2017. Washington sweet corn utilized production was valued at $84.1 million, down 11 percent from last year. These three states accounted for 31 percent of national utilized production.

Onions in Idaho were valued at $48.7 million, down 34 percent from 2017. Oregon onions had a total value of utilized production of $100 million, down 27 percent from last year. Washington onions were valued at $178 million, up 10 percent from 2017. The three states published in the Pacific Northwest accounted for 55 percent of the national utilized production.

Green peas in Oregon had a total utilized value of production of $7.19 million, down 17 percent from last year. Washington green peas were valued at $22.8 million, down 21 percent from 2017. These two states accounted for 30 percent of national utilized production.

Pumpkins in Oregon were valued at $9.78 million, up 50 percent from 2017. Washington pumpkins utilized value of production was $11.8 million, down 6 percent from last year. These two states account for 6 percent of the national utilized production.

Squash in Oregon had a total utilized value of production of $13.2 million, down 24 percent from 2017. Oregon accounts for 18 percent of the national utilized production.

Strawberries in Oregon were valued at $11.7 million, down 47 percent from 2017. Washington strawberries had a value of $9.17 million, down 24 percent from last year. The two states accounted for less than 1 percent of the national utilized production.