New York state produce shipments rank in the top 10 states and while summer loadings have been going on, the heaviest movement still lies ahead.
The USDA reports New York biggest fresh commodities by volume reveal apples, cabbage, cucumbers and fresh snap beans increased last year, while onions, sweet corn and potatoes dropped compared to the 2017 report:
New York shipped 823 truck load equivalents of apples and exported 150 truck loads in 2018, up from 7,35 truck loads and 140 truck loads respectively, in 2017.
Dry onions were at 440 truck loads in 2018, down from 404 truck loads in 2017.
Cabbage was at 437 truck loads in 2018, up from 405 truck loads in 2017.
Sweet corn shipments reached 108 truck loads in 2018, down from 118 truck loads in 2017.
Cucumbers were at 713 truck loads in 2018, up from 660 truck loads in 2017.
Potato shipments 673 truck loads in 2018, down from 825 truck loads in 2017.
Fresh snap bean shipments were at 50 truck loads in 2018, up from 37 truck loads in 2017.
Minkus Family Farms in New Hampton will start shipping yellow and red onions from it 1,500 acres of onions and cover crops in Orange County in August. The company expects to ship about 200 truck loads of onions this season.
New York’s sweet corn loadings may be down a little this year due to adverse weather during the planting season. The sweet corn season typically runs from July 20 to Oct. 10, but this year, the harvest is expected to be 2 to 3 weeks late.
Cabbage planting started about 2½ to 3 weeks late as well, and pumpkins and other squash got in the ground, but their growth is stunted due to cool weather, so they may not be ready until October.