united states department of agriculture www ers usda gov electronic outlook report from the economic research service vegetables and melons gary lucier charles plummer per capita consumption expected to rise in 2003 all on a fresh equivalent basis is increase 1 percent 445 pounds up about 6 2002 gains are be spread across processing items led by potatoes tomatoes sweet corn vegetable melon use fell 2 439 as lower market potato outweighed increased canning freezing despite decline total reached record high 18 3 person while cucumber onion cantaloup were second highest cool wet spring many areas has slowed growth disrupted harvest schedules leading sporadic weekly volume large price swings with curtailed at times this shipping point prices during april may averaged well above year earlier for several commodities including onions head lettuce snap
