Green peas being planted now will be harvested in June

This photo from June of 1925 shows wagons heaped with green pea vines heading to hulling machinery in a Frederica processing facility. Once a major early crop for Delaware farmers, with planting starting in late February and early March, national statistics from recent years show a trend away from green pea agriculture on American farms and in American diets.

In 1985, Delaware farmers planted and harvested 12,400 acres of green peas for a total value of $6,149,000. By 2010, those numbers had declined to 3,900 acres planted and a harvest value estimated at $1,966,000. 

Meanwhile, the statistics show - in the vegetable category - a swing nationally and in Delaware toward more sweet potato production.