Production for 26 estimated vegetable and melon crops totaled 758 million cwt in 2023, an increase of 6% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The three largest crops were tomatoes, onions and sweet corn. They combined for 54% of all the vegetables total. The value of utilized production for vegetable crops in 2023 was $19.5 billion, up less than 1% from the previous season. Tomatoes, romaine lettuce and carrots generated the highest values, accounting for 34% of the utilized value of production.
For Florida producers, tomato production tallied 897 million pounds, up 8% from the prior year. Its value of utilized production was $494 million, an increase of 39% from 2022. Sweet corn generated 588 million pounds, up 6%, while its value of utilized production was $253 million, an increase of 15%.
For Georgia growers, onion production recorded 232 million pounds, a decrease of 15% from 2022. Its value of utilized production was $159 million, a decrease of 7% from last year. Sweet corn generated 389 million pounds, an increase of 30%, while its value of utilized production was $169 million, up 59% from last year.
For South Carolina farmers, watermelon production totaled 101 million pounds, down 35% from 2022, while its value of utilized production for watermelons was $17.0 million, down 40% from the prior season.