By Ken Ige, Star-bulletin
A pineapple worker performs some weeding in
the Del Monte fields at Kunia earlier this year.
Pineapple output in 1997 was 7 percent below
1996 and at the lowest level since records
were kept starting in 1950.

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Hawaii agriculture
production
rose in ’97

Diversified crop output gained 11%
to make up for a 0.5% decline in
sugar and pineapple

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

Hawaii sugar and pineapple production fell in 1997, but diversified agriculture increased enough to bump the state's total crop value 0.5 percent to $490.9 million from the $488.3 million recorded in 1996.

Donald Martin, state agricultural statistician, said preliminary data show that diversified agriculture increased 11 percent to $314.2 million from the $284.3 million posted in 1996.

"That's an estimate and we're still looking at the figures for vegetables and a few other crops so the final diversified agriculture figure could change slightly," Martin said.

Diversified crops continue to replace sugar and pineapple as the major force in Hawaii agriculture, a trend that started in 1992, Martin said.

A capsule look at last year's crops shows:

Pineapple production in 1997 was at 324,000 tons, 7 percent below 1996 and the lowest total since the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service started keeping production records in 1950.

Sales of fresh pineapple were at 103,000 tons, 10 percent lower than 1996, and the lowest since 1980. Processed pineapple totaled 221,000 tons, 5 percent lower than 1996.

Farm value of pineapple was estimated at $91.7 million, 4 percent lower than 1996. Fresh market sales averaged $618 a ton, 3 percent higher than the previous year and the highest on record, said Martin.

"Producers reported lower yield due to growing problems such as root rot and weeds from heavy November 1996 rains," Martin said.

"On the positive side, good weather in 1997 helped promote better fruit color."

Sugar cane production was at 3,009,000 tons, down from 3,639,000 tons in 1996. Farm value was $85.5 million, down 21 percent from the $108.1 million in 1996.

Coffee production was at 9.4 million pounds, up 47 percent from the previous season. Farm prices averaged $3.85 per pound, up 18 percent from last season and the highest farm return since the 1989-90 season.

Tropical specialty fruit sales totaled 1.1 million pounds, up 16 percent from the previous year. Higher sales were reported for specialty pineapples, rambutans, atemoyas, lychees and persimmons. Decreases occurred in starfruit, mango, cherimoya and other minor specialty fruits. Farm value was $1.4 million, a 66 percent increase from 1996.

Banana production equaled 13.7 million pounds, up 5 percent from 1996. Total banana lands reached a record of 1,500 acres. The average farm price slipped 2 cents to 38.0 cents a pound but the increases in Cavendish banana production helped boost the farm value to a record $5.2 million.

Ginger root production hit a record high of 18 million pounds, up 49 percent from the previous season. Farm prices averaged 40 cents per pound, down 40 percent from the previous season and the lowest farm return in 27 seasons.

Guava production totaled 15.9 million pounds, down 2 percent from 1996. Harvested lands equaled 670 acres, down 40 acres from 1996. Farm value was at $1.9 million, 14 percent lower than in 1996.

The macadamia nut crop was estimated at 58 million pounds, 1.5 million more than the previous year. While good weather helped boost production, the farm value was at $43.5 million, 1 percent less than in 1996.

Avocado production was at 500,000 pounds, up 25 percent. Farm prices averaged 53 cents a pound, a drop of 1 percent.

Taro production, for poi and Chinese taro, was 5.2 million pounds for 1997, down 9 percent from the 5.7 million pounds in 1996. Total farm revenues declined 5 percent to $2.7 million.

Figures were not immediately available for vegetables and melons, milk, eggs, and cattle.