NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
Small Farms and Specialty Crops
June 1999:
THE PACKER'S 1999 FRESH PRODUCE CONSUMER SURVEY
Mark GaskellThe Packer Fresh Trends magazine has just published the 1999 Fresh Producer Consumer Profile, a nationwide survey of fresh produce retail buyers. The survey is useful as a guide to current and emerging trends in fresh fruit and vegetable purchasing habits by consumers. The following are some of the highlights:
| West | 21% |
| South | 35% |
| North Central | 24% |
| Northeast | 20% |
| Less than $12,000 | 14% |
| $12,500 - 22,499 | 16% |
| $22,500 - 34,999 | 19% |
| $35,000 - 49,900 | 17% |
| Over $50,000 | 34% |
| Leafy vegetables | 98% |
| Potatoes | 98% |
| Carrots | 94% |
| Tomatoes | 94% |
| Onions | 92% |
| Celery | 88% |
| Bell Peppers | 84% |
| Sweet Corn | 84% |
| Broccoli | 84% |
| Cucumbers | 84% |
And there are some interesting entries at lower percentages in the "ever purchased" class:
| Escarole | 66% |
| Red Cabbage | 64% |
| Turnips | 64% |
| Rutabagas | 64% |
| Eggplant | 63% |
| Okra | 63% |
| Brussels Sprouts | 62% |
| Endive | 59% |
| Artichokes | 55% |
Some interesting trends have emerged from the survey in recent years.
| Percent of Households Purchasing: | 1992 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 |
| Blueberries | 49 | 52 | 53 | 54 |
| Carambola | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| Fuji Apples | 10 | 19 | 29 | |
| Gala Apples | 13 | 25 | 30 | |
| Mangoes | 25 | 29 | 35 | 35 |
| Navel Orange | 85 | 90 | 88 | 90 |
| Seedless Dark Grapes | 36 | 38 | 40 | 43 |
| Seedless Watermelon | 28 | 33 | 40 | 45 |
| Herbs | 30 | 32 | 35 | |
| Romaine | 27 | 46 | 44 | 51 |
| Mushrooms | 10 | 14 | 17 | 21 |
| Specialty Onions, sweet | 60 | 66 | 70 | 70 |
| Colored Peppers | 44 | 49 | 51 | 55 |
| Sweet Potatoes, Yams | 62 | 65 | 66 | 67 |
| Tomatoes, Roma | 38 | 46 | 52 | 54 |
| Purchased monthly when available: | |
| Tomatoes | 86% |
| Lettuce, Iceberg | 84% |
| Cucumbers | 83% |
| Sweet Corn | 82% |
| Green Beans | 81% |
| Broccoli | 81% |
| Tomatoes, Roma | 80% |
| Lettuce, green/red leaf | 80% |
| Carrots | 79% |
| Onions, bulb | 79% |
| Onions, sweet | 77% |
| Peppers | 75% |
| Romaine | 75% |
| Fruits purchased weekly when available: | |
| Bananas | 65% |
| Strawberries | 38% |
| Nectarines | 32% |
| Apples, any variety | 31% |
| Cantaloupe | 30% |
| Peaches | 30% |
| Oranges, naval | 29% |
| Apples, Fuji | 28% |
| Carambola | 27% |
| Cherries | 27% |
| Apples, Granny Smith | 26% |
| Apples, Gala | 25% |
| Avocados | 25% |
| Apples, Red Delicious | 25% |
| Oranges, specialty | 25% |
| Fruits purchased for first time in last 12 months: | |
| Tropical Fruits | 38% |
| Apples, any variety | 32% |
| Citrus | 21% |
| Melons | 19% |
| Fuji Apples | 17% |
| Mangoes | 17% |
| Oranges | 15% |
| Gala Apples | 15% |
| Tree Fruits | 13% |
| Berries | 12% |
| Seedless Watermelon | 11% |
| Oranges, specialty | 11% |
| Pears | 9% |
| Grapes | 9% |
| Kiwi | 8% |
| Fresh cut purchase - past 12 months: | |
| Carrots, fresh peeled | 94% |
| Salads, salad mixes | 93% |
| Broccoli florets | 84% |
| Carrots, fresh cut | 78% |
| Celery, fresh cut | 74% |
| Cauliflower florets | 73% |
| Safety of US produce compared to imported: | |
| Better | 70% |
| About the same | 20% |
| Don't know | 7% |
| Worse | 3% |
| Primary grocery store sells imported produce: | |
| Yes | 63% |
| No | 18% |
| Don't know | 20% |
This is only a small sample of the information available in the complete survey. If you are interested in the entire survey, contact:
1999 Fresh Trends, Circulation Department
P.O. Box 2939
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201-1339
1-800-255-5113
PESTICIDE SAFETY FOR SMALL FARMS
Mark GaskellThe second edition of the publication entitled "Pesticide Safety for Small Farms" is now available from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The publication is co-authored by UC farm advisors Mick Canevari, Bob Mullen, and UC IPM educator Jennifer Weber. The booklet covers such subject areas as:
The publication is No. 21555, the cost is $5.00, and it is available from the Santa Maria Cooperative Extension office.
Post-harvest management continues to be a serious constraint on many small farms that concentrate on mixed fruits and vegetables, and/or cut flowers. Refrigeration for pre-cooling and storage is a major factor contributing to efficient post-harvest handling. A publication entitled "Small-Scale Cold Rooms for Perishable Commodities" is available as pub No. 21449 from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The publication’s authors are James Thompson and Mark Spinoglio of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis. The publication includes discussions on planning for cold room construction, designs choices, and designs of owner-built structures. The cost of the publication is $2.00. For more information contact the Santa Maria Cooperative Extension office at 805/934-6240.