A diminished peach crop hurt total fresh produce volumes in South Carolina in 2022, USDA statistics show.
Total South Carolina truck shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables totaled 314.4 million pounds in 2022, down 5% from 332.2 pounds in 2021, according to USDA statistics. The top month for produce shipments from South Carolina in 2022 was June when 106.5 million pounds of fruits and vegetables were shipped. July was second in importance with 94.5 million pounds shipped, the USDA said.
South Carolina fresh commodities that showed gains above 8% in 2022 were greens, green onions, tomatoes and seedless watermelon.
Here are 2022 shipments of South Carolina fresh produce items, with the percent change from 2021:
- Greens: 86.6 million pounds, up 9%.
- Green onions: 22.3 million pounds, up 23%.
- Peaches: 54.1 million pounds, down 50%.
- Squash: 3.8 million pounds, down 5%.
- Tomatoes: 36.4 million pounds, up 99%.
- Cherry tomatoes: 100,000 pounds, down 50%.
- Grape tomatoes: 600,000 pounds, down 65%.
- Seeded watermelons: 2 million pounds, up 43%.
- Seedless watermelon: 108.5 million pounds, up 9%.
- Total: 314.4 million pounds, down 5%.
Foxweather.com reported May 16 that South Carolina peaches may be on the light side again in 2023, as a mild winter in the Southeast followed by frost in the early spring hurt peach crop potential in Georgia and South Carolina. No USDA estimate on the U.S. peach crop had been issued as of May 23.
