Overview

Celery has nutritional properties and versatility that have made it a relatively steady item in the grocery cart. During 2007, U.S. consumers used about 1.9 billion pounds of celery, or an average of 6.4 pounds per person that year.

According to USDA's AMS, the 2007 crop of fresh-market celery totaled 20.3 million cwt, and at an average price of $20.40 per cwt (crate weight based on 60 pounds per crate), the total value of celery was $413.5 million. The United States continues to be a net exporter of celery. Likewise, Canada remains the largest importer of U.S. celery, receiving about 206 million pounds of the total 255 million pounds of fresh-market celery exports. May 2008 . . . Celery

Marketing

• California Commodity Profile - Celery, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2002.  
• Celery, Vegetables and Melons, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA, 2005.  
• Stalking Celery, Agricultural Outlook, Economic Research Service, USDA, 2000 - This profile considers the decline in Florida celery production over the past 20 years and movement of production of this crop to California. This is a good overview of national production figures, as well as consumer preferences and related industry dynamics.
• Terminal Price Reports, Fruit and Vegetable Market News, Federal-State Market News Service, USDA - Terminal price reports from fifteen major U.S. terminals for various vegetables including celery.
• Vegetables 2007 Summary, NASS, USDA, January 2008.
• Vegetables and Melons Situation and Outlook Yearbook, ERS, USDA, May 2008.

Processing/Manufacturing

• Celery Advisory and Marketing Board, Department of Food and Agricultural Marketing, State of California - Provisions for establishing and outlining the guidelines for the celery advisory and marketing board in California.
• EC Plant Health, Imports and Exports, European Community, 2006.
• Organic Production (Regulatory Standards) Manual (Florida), USDA and University of Florida - National Organic Standards as they pertain to Florida organic vegetable growers. 
• UN-Related International Trade Regulations, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), 1995 - This concerns the marketing and commercial quality control of ribbed celery: definition of produce and provisions concerning quality.
• Oregon State University Food Resource, 2007 - Nutrition information, historic use overviews and bibliography on celery and celery nutrition. 
• U.S. Standards, Agricultural Marketing Research Service, USDA - United States Standards for grades of celery.

Production

• Celery Production in California, Vegetable Research and Information Center Vegetable Production Series, 1996 - Paper on acreage yields and value, soil requirements, irrigation costs and other production factors. Available in Spanish.
• Celery Production in Florida, IFAS, University of Florida.
• Commercial Celery Production in Eastern North Carolina, North Carolina State University, 2001 - Fertilizer, irrigation, pest control, varietal selection, production, grading, harvest and postharvest information. Includes Ten Tips for Successful Celery Production.
• How Celery is Grown, Dole Reference Center Encyclopedia - A pictoral overview of how celery is grown and prepared for market.
• Irrigation and Fertigation, 2002 - A file on drip irrigation and fertilization via the drip system for large-scale irrigated celery production systems.
• Pest Management in the Future, A Strategic Plan for the Michigan Celery Industry Workshop (Summary), Michigan State University, 2002.
• University of California Pest Management Guidelines, 2007 - Pest management guidelines for the control of celery nematodes, insect pests and related pest- and disease-management issues.
• University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center - Various publications and reports on production systems, pest management and IPM information.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Cal-Cel Marketing, Inc. - Example of a large-scale producer distirbutor. The team of Cal-Cel Marketing and Hiji Bros. has been growing celery for over four decades. This site includes a virtual photo tour.
• Celery: An Economic Assessment of the Feasibility of Providing Multiple-Peril Crop Insurance, Economic Research Service, USDA, in cooperation with the University of California for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation - A comprehensive production, processing and marketing study based on data from 1987 to 1993.
• Michigan State Fresh Market Celery Budget, 2002.
• Indian Suppliers, Manufacturers, and Exporters - A directory listing containing manufacturers, exporters, suppliers and traders of celery seed.
• Marketing Promotions Increase Florida Produce Sales, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, 2002 - Three springtime marketing promotions helped boost retail sales of Florida-grown fruits and vegetables (including celery) by nearly $80 million. This press release describes a point-of-purchase advertising campaign in more than 5,000 retail stores located in 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Participating retail grocery chains reported 8 to 12 percent increases in sales of Florida produce over the previous year's averages. Sales of several specific Florida items increased as much as 100 percent to 600 percent in some stores during the marketing promotions.

Links checked February 2008.