ATHENS, Ga. — These estimates were based on grower disposition surveys used to collect acreage, yield, production, and price data along with federal administrative data. Thanks to all who responded to our surveys. Key findings for the Southern Region:
Avocados: Florida’s utilized production for 2021 totaled 14,220 tons, down 17 percent from 2020 while its associated value of production was down 3 percent to $13.4 million. Wind damage and laurel wilt disease were primary contributors to lower avocado production in 2021.
Blueberries: Georgia’s utilized production, at 82.4 million pounds was up 19 percent from 2020. The value of utilized production was up 4 percent from 2020 to $104 million. Utilized production of blueberries in Florida for 2021 was up 27 percent to 25.6 million pounds, while value of production increased 50 percent to $77.7 million.
Peaches: Adequate chill hours in 2021 allowed both Georgia and South Carolina peach producers to realize increases in yield from 2020. In Georgia, utilized peach production was down 3 percent to 28,770 tons while value of production decreased 12 percent from 2020 to $35.6 million. South Carolina utilized production for 2021 was up 8 percent to 72,630 tons and its associated value of production increased 5 percent to $106 million. The South Carolina peach yield of 5.46 tons per acre for 2021 was the highest realized since 2011.
Pecans: Utilized production of pecans in Georgia for 2021 was down 40 percent to 88.6 million pounds. Georgia’s pecan production accounted for 35 percent of the Nation’s total production. Frequent rains and cloud cover during the nut fill stage contributed to the lower production for 2021. Despite the considerable decrease in production, value of production was down just 3 percent from 2020 to $183 million.
Strawberries: Florida’s utilized production of strawberries in 2021 totaled 250 million pounds, down 13 percent from 2020. The value of utilized production in 2021 was up slightly from 2020 at $399 million.
–USDA, NASS
