FRUIT AND VEGATABLE HIGHLIGHTS 



CRANBERRIES 



Massachusetts cranberry growers have been producing record or near record crops each year for the past 

 several years and 1983 was no exception. Production in 1983 totaled a record 1.460 million barrels, 13 

 percent above the 1982 production. Excellent growing conditions contributed to a record high yield with 

 growers harvesting 130.4 barrels to the acre. A season average price of $50.70 per barrel during 1983 gave 

 growers a $74.0 million value for their crop. 



APPLES 



Apple producers in the Commonwealth had a relatively good year on the production side in 1983 with a crop 



2.3 million 42-pound units. The price per unit, at $7.10, was down from the previous two years with 



resulting value of production 5 percent below 1982. Massachusetts apple production continues to rank 

 13th in the Nation. 



PEACHES 



The 1983 peach crop benefitted from favorable growing conditions. Production totaled 35,000 48-pound units, I 

 13 percent above the previous year. Price per unit also increased in 1983 resulting in a value of 

 production totaling $782,000. 1 



POTATOES 



Potato production in 1983 totaled 646,000 cwt., 17 percent below the previous ye?ir and the smallest | 

 production since 1973. The drop in production resulted from both an acreage reduction and a relatively 

 low yield. The crop is valued at $4.0 million, the lowest value since 1975. 



VEGETABLES 



Commercial vegetable growers in the Commonwealth produced 800,000 cwt. of sweet corn and 94,000 cwt. of 

 tomatoes for sale as fresh produce in 1983. Sweet corn production was 18 percent more than 1982, while 

 tomato production was down 35 percent. The value of these two commodities was $13.5 million in 1983, 3 

 percent less than the 1982 value. The decrease in value was the result of the lower tomato production and 

 value as sweet corn was above 1982. 



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