Evidence study

BOSTON

ifiliSl ^^

3

9999 0631' 3^ _^H-iT5» I - -

NATIONAL RECOVERY ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION OF REVIEW

EVIDENCE STUDY
NO. 43

<a —

OF

THE WHOLESALE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE
DISTRIBUTIVE INDUSTRY

Prepared by

JOHN A. LUCAS

September, 1935

PRELIMINARY DRAFT
(NOT FOR RELEASE: FOR USE IN DIVISION ONLY)

THE EVIDENCE STUDY SERIES

The EYIDENCE STUDIES were originally planned as a means of gathering evidence
bearing upon various legal issues which arose under the National Industrial Re-
covery Act.

These studies have value quite aside from the use for which they were originally
intended. Accordingly, they are now made available for confidential use within the
Division of Review, and for inclusion in Code Histories.

The full list of the Evidence Studies is as follows:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21,
22.

Automobile Manufactixring Ind.

Boot and Shoe Mfg. Ind.

Bottled Soft Drink Ind.

Biiilders' Supplies Ind.

Chemical Mfg. Ind,

Cigar Mfg. Industrv

Construction Industry

Cotton Garment Industry

Dress Mfg. Ind.

Electrical Contracting Ind.

Electrical Mfg. Ind.

Fab . Me tal Prod. Mf g . , e tc .

Fishery Industry

Furniture Mfg. Ind.

General Contractors Ind.

Graphic Arts Ind.

Gray Iron Foundry Ind.

Hosiery Ind.

Infant's c: Children's Wear Ind.

Iron and Steel Ind.

Leather

Lumber & Timber prod. Ind.

23. Mason Contractors Industry

24. Men's Clothing Industry

25. Motion Picture Industry

26. Motor Biis Mfg. Industry (Dropped)

27. Needlework Ind. of Puerto Rico

28. painting & Paperhanging & Decorating

29. Photo Engraving Industry

30. Plumbing Contracting Industry

31. Retail Food (See No. 42)

32. Retail Lumber Industry

33. Retail Solid Fuel (Dropped)

34. Retail Trade Industry

35. Rubber Mfg. Ind.

36. Rubber Tire Mfg. Ind.

37. Silk Textile Ind.

38. Structural Clay Products Ind.

39. Throwing Industry

40. Trucking Industry

41. Waste Materials Ind.

42. Wholesale & Retail Food Ind. (See No. 31)

43. Wholesale Fresh Fruit & Veg.

In addition to the studies brought to completion, certain materials have been
assembled for other industries. These MATERIALS are included in the series and are
also made available for confidential use within the Division of Review and for in-
clusion in Code Histories, as follows:

44. Wool Textile Industry

45. Automotive Parts & Equip.

46. Baking Industry

47. Canning Industry

48. Coat and Suit Ind.

49. Household Goods & Storage, etc. (Dropped)

Ind. 50. Motor Vehicle Retailing Trade Ind.

51. Retail Tire & Battery Trade Ind.

52. Ship & Boat Bldg. & Repairing Ind.

53. Wholesaling or Distributing Trade

L. C. Marshall
Director, Division of Review

CONTENTS

Page

Forei^ord 1

CHAPTER I - THE HATUEE OF THE IimUSTRY 2

Definition and Brief Description of

■ the Industry , 2

Total Nunbor of Establish-nents . . J 2

ITunber of Sstatilishnents by States . , * 2

Number of Zstablislinents Classified by ITunber

of Units in Organization 3

Establishments Classified According

to Nxmber of Employees 4

Net Sales of the Industx-y 4

Capital Investment in the Industry 4

Nunber of Failures and Anouiit of

Liability Involved 4

CHAPTER II - LA20R STA.TISTICS 6

Total Number of Employees 6

Number of Employees, by States 6

Total Annual ^ages and Sa.laries 6

Wages Paid, by States 6

Weekly Hours 7

Labor Cost 7

CHAPTER III " DISTRIBUTION 9

General 9

Volvune of Shipments 9

Shipments by States 10

Net Sales by States 10

Interstate Shipments 11

Potatoes 12

Lettuce 12

Oranges 13

Grapes 13

Grapefruit 13

Tomatoes 13

Exoorts 15

Volume 15

Value 15

Imports 17

Volume 17

Value 17

CHAPTER IV - GENERAL INEORI'JLTIONt 20

Trade Associa.tions 20

Labor Organisation in the Industry 20

List of Experts ' 20

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-i-

TABLS

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE
TABLE

TABLE

TABLE
TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLES

page

I - KuEilier of Establsihraents, by

Principal States, 1929 and 1933 S

II - Estatilishraents Classified by Number

of Units in Organization - IS 29 3

III - Percentage Distribiition of Members
of the Industry, Classified
According to Number of Em-
ployees , June 16 , 1934 4

IV - Number of Failures and Amount of

Liabilities Involved, 1950-1934 5

V - Nurnbr- r of Employee s , 'oy State s , 1929 6

VI - Wages Paid to Employees, by

States, 1929 7

VII - Labor Cost and Total Expenses Com-
pared with Total Value of Sales,
1929 and 1933 7-3

VIII - Carlo t Shipments of Fresh Fruits

and Vegetables, 1929-1934 9

IX - itail and Water Shipments of Fruits

and Vegetables, by States, 10

X- Net Sales by States, 1929 10-11

XI - Carlot Shipments of Specified
Commodities as Percentages of
Total Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Shipments , . H

XII - Proportion of Specified Fruits and
Vegetables Ma,rketed in Five
Principal Consur.;ing Cities, 1934 12

XIII - Proportion of T^to Florida Fruits
Marketed in Five Principal
Gonswiing States , 1934 12

XIV - Carlot Unloads at New York City,

by Commodity and Princixial Source,

1934 . . 14

854E

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TABLES (Cont'd)

Page

TABLE XV - Quantity of Principal Ey-ports

of Eresh Eraits and Vegetables,

1931-1934 15

TABLE XVI - Value of EroDorts of Fresh Fruits

and Vej^-e tables, 1931-1934 16

TABLE XVII - Quantity of Principal Imports of
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,
1951-1934 18

TABLE XVIII - Value of Imports of Fresh Fruits

and Vegetables, 1931-1934 19

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8545 -iii-

-1-

WHOLESALE ERESH ERUIT AllD VEGETABLE
DISTRIBUTIVE IliDUSTRY

Eoreword

There is a scarcity of information for this Industry, except for the
data collected "by the Department of Agricult-ure concerning the shipment of
agricultiaral commodities, and the general information collected hy the
Census Bureau in 1929 and 1953. In connection with the Census data used in
this study, it should be noted that nhile the 1929 Census covered all es-
tahlishments, in 1933 only wholesalers with annual net sales of $1,000 or
more and assemblers with sales of $500 or more, were included. This tends
to exaggerate the extent of the decline, in annual data, from the year 1929
to 1935, It must also be noted that the Census data are more comprehensive
than the Code coverage, in that they include assemblers, packers, etc., who
are excluded from the Code by definition. What proportion of the Cen'BUs
total actually comes under the Code cannot be stated.

The section on "Interstate Shipments" in Chapter III can b e greatly
enlarged on the basis of data available at the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, if this is considered desirable.

Because of the nature of the Industry, no section on raw materials is
included, and, because of the lack of data, the section on trade practices
is also omitted.

8545

r2- ■

CHAPTER i

THE mTURE OF THE IKDUSTRY

Definition and Brief Description of the Industry

Code Ntunter 17, signed on June 29, 1934, and effective July 16, 1934,
defines the Industry in Section 1 of Article II, as follows:

"The terms 'Wholesale Eresh Fruit and Vegetahle Distrihutive
Industry' and 'Industry' as used herein include shipping re-
ceiving, selling or "buying, or offering to sell or "buy, either
as principal or agent, fresh fruits and fresh vegetahles in
wholesale quantities, hut shall not include the sale or dis-
trihution of fresh fruits or fresh vegetables other than to a
trade huyer. The Industry as defined shall not include the
production nor preparation, assemhling, or loading at point
of production of commodities for shipment, nor shall anything
in this Code or regulations thereunder prevent anyone from
marketing or trading produce of his farm,"

The products involved in this Industry are entirely of an agricultural
nature consisting principally of apples, "berries, cahhage, grapefruit,
gTEi-peSf lettuce, onions, oranges, pears, peaches, white and sweet potatoes,
and tomatoes, Th« chief listrihutive factors involved are the fpllowingi
auctions, "brokers, chain-"buying agencies, commission merchants, cooperative
associations, motor truck distri'butors, jo"b"bers, and wholesalers.

Total ITumher of Esta'blishments

The Wholesale Census of Distri"bution reported 11,194 estahlishments en-
gaged in this "business in 1929, while the Census of American Business re-
ported 9,083 esta'blishments for 1933, a decrease of a'bout 19 per cent from
1929. Ho data are availa"ble for 1931.

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the U. S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, there v;ere on July 22, 1935, 15,944 esta'blishments
licensed under the Perisha'ble Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930. Com-
parative figures for corresponding dates are as follows:

1934 (July 21) 15,488
1933 (July 22) 14,238
1932 (July 23) 15,281

In the year 1933, for which "both the Census data and the license ciata
are availa'blo, the license figure is considerably higher than the Census
figure for the reason that canners and other food processors, as well as
some "brokers who negotiate purchases in interstate commerce and whose activ-
ities are not covered "by the Census blassif ication, axe included ■CJader the
Perishable Commodities Act..

Number of Establishments by States

The distribution of wholesale establishments in 1929 and 1933 is shown
in Table I for the leading states. California and Hew York are easily the

8545

most important states. The decline in mjjn"ber of estalalishments from 1929
to 1933 was more marked in New totk than in California with the result
that New York yielded first place to California in the latter year,

TABLE I

Number

of

Sj

stabli

.shments.

^7

Pr:

incipal

States,

1929

and

1933

State

Number
1929

of Establ

.ishments
1933

U. S. Total 11,194 9,083

California 1,072 1,161

Illinois 610 491

Massachusetts 362 331

Missouri 458 311

New York 1,453 1,143

Ohio 383 358

Pennsylvania 946 Gil

All other states 5,910 4,707

Source: Census of Wholesale Distribution, 1929;
Census of American Business. 1933; 1933
data do not include wholesalers whose
annual net sales were less than $1,000,
or assemblers with sales of less than
$500.

Establishments Classified by Number of Units in Organization

The Census of Wholesale Distribution for 1929 reported information con-
cerning the number of establishments in organizations having one or nore
units. As is shown in Table II, by far the majority of the establishments
were in one-unit organizations.

TABLE II

Establishments Classified by Number of Units in
Organization - 1929
Number of Units

in Organization Number of Establishments

All establishments 11,194

1 9,02^0

2 388

3 to 5 420
6 to 25 504
25 to 100 538
Over 100 2
More than 1, but lonknown 322

Source: Census of Wholesale Distribution, 1929.

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Estaljllshments Classified According: to Ifajn"ber of Employees

Sample questionnaire data recently conpiled "by EEli for 6,209 employees
from 985 establishments in the Industry indicate the distribution of ostoJb-
lishments "by numter of employees. Prom the data presented in Ta'ble III it
can "be seen that the Industry is composed of snail-size esta"blishments —
over half of the members employing less tho.n 5 workers,

Percent-.Tc Distri"'outior. of Llenbers of the Iniustry, Classified

Accordir-.f^ to I''in"ber "of Emjlbyees, June 16, 19;?4

Ter Cent of Establishments with
Number of Employees Specified Number of Employees

All establishments 100.0

None 3.3

1 and under 5 56,1

5 and under 10 22.1

10 and under 20 12,5

20 and under 40 4.7

40 and under 80 1.2

80 and over •!

Source: Compiled by IJRk, Research and Planning Division, from special
questionnaires.

Net Sales of the Industry

Net sales in 1933 totaled $1,733,284,000 compared with $3,2^2,975,000
in 1929, or a, decrease of about 47 per cent.

The Industry ranlced third among wholesale trades, and during 1933 its
net sales were exceeded only by wholesale petroleum and grocery distributors,

Cax)ital Investment in the Industry

A number of sources were consulted for data on the capital investment
in the Industry, but no information could be obtained.

Number of Failures and Amount of Liability Involved

A special tabulation made by Dun and Bradstreet indicates that the
number of failures in the Industry as defined by the Code more than doubled
from 1930 to 1933, with a marked decline in 1934. The amount of liabilities
involved nearly quadrupled from 1930 to 1933, but declined somewhat in 1934.
(See Table IV).

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TABLE IV

ITum'ber of Failures and Amount of Liabilities Involved,

1930 - 1934

NumlDer of Amouxit of

Year Pailui-es Liabilities Involved

1930 49 $ 668,250

1931 55 790,500

1932 75 2,358,526

1933 109 2,596,398

1934 63 2,204,757

Source* IXxn and Bradstreet; special compilation sent liy letter to the
HRA, Research, and Planning Division,

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CHAPTER II

LABOR STATISTICS

Total Humber of Employees

The Bureau of the Census reported 92,799 employees engaged in this In-
dustry in 1929, compa,red rdth 55,418 employees in 1933, or a decrease of e.hoxxt
40 per cent. Figures received from the office of the former Code Authoritj'- fo
985 identical firms indicate that for the neek of June 16, 1934, shortly "i'efor
the Code was signed, 6,209 employees rrere reported, compared with 6,247 on
October 20, 1934, several nonths after the Code was signed.

]\[um"ber of Emx)lovees. hy States

The Distrihution Census reported 1929 employment figures, ^y states, as
presented in Tahle V. California employed "by far the largest number of worker
— nearly one-fourth of the total reported. Comparable figures for other year
are not available.

TABLE V

Ilumber of Em-plovees. by Stp^tes. 1929

State Number of Employees

U. S. Total 92,799

California 21,227

Illinois 4,403

1 Massachusetts 2,399

Missouri 2,433

New York 8,465

Ohio 2,561

Pennsylvania 4,044

All other states 47.167

Source: Census of Uholesple Distribution, 1929.

Total Annual Uai^ves end Salaries

Annual wages and salaries in this Indus tr;'- as reported by the U. S, Bur-
eau of the Census for 1929 totaled $123,628,000 compared with $79,032,000 in
1933, Part-time wages and salaries durin;'' 1933 totaled $12,685,000. Corre-
sponding figures for 1934 are not available.

Wages Paid, by States

Wages paid in leading states in 1929 are shown in Table VI. The wide
varis.tion in wage rates in different states is indicated by the fact that al-
though New York employs only two-fifths as many employees as California, its
annual wage bill is four-fifths as large.

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TJ^BLE VI
U.T'.^es Fa id to Yiroloyee^.. l3y Stater^ ,1929

(in thousand E^)

U. S. iotal . 1^123, S-'B

Crliiornia 24,578

Illinois 9,441

Kassachucetts 4,S04

rissouri 3,540

Yox! YorV ■ 19:, 173

Oiiio 4,548

?ennsj-l vp-nia, 6 , 459

All other states 51,535

Source : Ccp.'^^ift of "Triolesalff Distribntinn. ]929.

TTeokl-^ Houri-:

llo data are a^vailahle 'n hourc. of rjorh, except those gathered in tvo sur-
veys conducted ty the 17BA in June 1933, and J'one and October 1934. In the :nic
die of June 1933, rivara^e wee'.ly hours of all employees were 54.1, By Jane
1934, they ha,6. declinpd to 43.3, and in October they rere 42.9.

Labor Cost

As shovn in Table VII, the total labor cost in handlin,'^ uholesale fresh
fruits and vegeta,bles. as reported b;- the Census of distribution, was $123,-
628,000 in 1929, co-.;pared Lvith $79,032,000, in 1933, or a decrease of 35 ver
cent. The total labor cost in 1923 was 2.6 per cent of the total sales, com-
pared rith 4.6 in 1933. Total expenses in 1929 were $260,535,000, compared
with ni74, 646,000 in 1933, or a decrease of about 33 iDer cent. Total e^qoenses
were 8 "oer cent of the sales in 1929, and 10.1 per cent in 1933.

TALL?. VII

La.bor Cost and Total "1:rpen5-'os Conpa.rod with
Total Value of Sales. 1929 anr] 1^933

Total Value Total Labor Cc^t Total g-rpeir.es SJ

Year of Sales Anoiuit Per Cent A'no\mt Per Cent
(000' g) (000 's) of Sales (OOP's) of Sales

1929 $5,252,976 $123,628 2.6 $200,538 3.0

1933 1,733,284 79,032 4.6 174,646 10. 1

Source: Census of V,nolesale Distributior^. 1920; and Census of Ajnerican Tusi;
ness. 193"; 1933 data do not include wholesalers whose annual net
sa,les were less than $1,000, or ass-cT.blers -/ith sales of less than
3500.

(Cont'd, on following pa.'^e)

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TABLE VII
(Cont'd)

a/ Includes all expenses paid bj the reporting wholesale establishments. It
covers total payroll, and all other expenses incurred in the operation of th
"business, such as traveling and other e^rpenses of salesmen, rent paid for th
premises, interest, advertising expenses, credit and collection e:qDense in-
cluding losses from bad debts, insurance, certain ta.xes', light, heat, po^ver,
posta.ge, etc. Neither capital investment, (land, buildings, fixtures, and
the li]:e) noi" the cost of goods sold is included.

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CHAPTER III
DISTEIBUTIOK

Gener?2

The 1)1111: of fresh fruit and vegetable shipuents at one stage or ajiother
in their progress to a. final uarket are of el^ interstate nature.

The data in the section on "Interstate Shipnents" give some indication
of the interstate nature of the Industry. They do not, however, nal:e as
complete and conclusive a case as might 'be made 'oi'' use of the vast amount
of material availahle from the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. To utilise
these materials properly, horrever, a considerahle amount of time must be
e:q3ended to compile them into suitable forTi. The tables herein presented
are merely a sa;:ple of uhat ca,n be obtained if desirable.

Volume of Shi'oments

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the Dejpartment
of Agricu-lture, carlot shipments of fresh fruits rJid vegetables from 1929
to I93U r^alf;ed from l,066,UOO carlots in I929 to 7SS,UoO carlots in 1933;
in 193^> 225,097 carlots uere shipped. These fig\i.res include boat ship**.
raents reduced to carlot eo^uivalents, but they do not include shipments by
motor truck. (See Table VIIl).

TABLE VIII

Carlot Shipments of Eresh Fruits and Vegetables,

1929-193^

Year Ca.rlots a/ Year Carlots a/

1929 i,o66,Uoo 1932 333, S2S

1930 l,0U4,l40C 1933 7G£,US0

1931 1,013,012 193^1 S25,097

Source: Bureau of Agriciiltural Bconor.ics, 1

"Ca.rlot Shipments of Eruits and Vege-
ta,ble3 by Conxiodities, States and
Months, I93U".

a/ Including boat shipnents reduced to
carlot equivalents, but not motor
t ruck shipment s .

During recent years the shipments by truck have increased very
rapidly. Although no complete official figures are available, authori-
ties in the Industry estimate tlia.t the annual tonnage moved 'by trucks
ranges from 3O to 35 per cent of the total.

The movement by water has likewise increased rapidly during recent
years, as evidenced by the following boat shipment figures submitted by

l^hr

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tlie Bureau of ^ri cultural Sconomics:

1932 - 20,lgU carlots

1933 - 32,119 carlots
I33IJ. „ III, 959 carlots

Shi foments b:' States

Shipnents "b;' rail arid water frou the principal proclucing states are
sho\7n in Taole IX. The data include shipment of ciTied, as well as fresh
fruits and vegetables, but the former constitute onl"-- from one to tv/o per
cent of the total. T'le table shows the marked degree of concentration
of shipnents fron the two states, California and Plorid^.

TABLE IX

Ea-il and Uater Shipments of Fri.iits and Vegeta,bles,

b7 States
(in thousands of carlot equivalents)

29s. s

222.1

233.2

246.5

109.7

IIS.O

103.9

101.6

53.2

kz.i

U9.S

50. U

^U.2

5U.6

3S.2

33.3

51.9

5S.3

36.6

i+3.7

57.3

U6.1

27.H

29.7

5S.6

56. S

U5.I

51.3

State 1929 1931 1933 193^4

U. S. Total 1,07^.1 1,023.3 79s. 5 S34.6

California

FloricLa

Maine

¥.e\j York

Texas

Virginia

Washington

All other 390. ^l 359.3 264.3 27s. 1

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Economics, O'o . ci t .

Het Sales by States

The distribution of sales in 1929 by the 7 lep.ding states is shown
in Table X. ITew York States accounted for more tlian a fifth of total
sales in that year and California was second in importance, accounting
for more than one-eighth of the total.

TABLE X
Net Sales by Sttites, I929

S545

State Sales

(in thousands)

U. S. Total $3,252,976

California ^37,567

Illinois 30U,1SS

Massachusetts 139>OS3

Missouri 112, Ull

(Continued on next page)

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TABLE X (Cont'd)

State

Sales
(in tliousands)

NevT York

Ohio

Pennsylvania.

All other state;

lU0,hg7
2^6,165

1,136,551

Source: Census of tirholesale Distrioiition. 1929

Interstate Shipments

The larQ-e proportion of fresh fruits and ve;';;et aisles shipped across
state borders in 193^ is indicated by the data, in Tables XII and XIII.
The importance of the 6 conr.iodities specified in these 2 tables is shown
by the fact that they comprised over ^0 per cent of a,ll the fresh fruits
a,nd vegetables shipped in 193'+' Table XI sho'js the relative importance
of each crop.

TABLE XI

Carlot Shipments of Specified Commodities a.s Percentages
of Total Presh Pruit and Vegetable Shipments, 193^

Commodity

Carlot s a/

Per Cent
of Total

Potatoes
Oranges b/
Lettuce c/
Grapes
Tomatoes
C-rape fruit

Total, o commodities

All others

Total, fresh fruits and
vegetables

223,507

27.1

SU,93S

10.3

U^^ll!-5

5.U

32,Uso

3.9

25,226

3.1

20,55s

2.5

k3Q,83k

52.3

39^,2^3

^7.7

225,097

100.0

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Economics, "Carlot Shipments of Fruits
and Vegetables, by Commodities, States, and Months, 193^."

a/ Includes boatloads reduced to carlot eptiivalents, but not
t rucl: shipment s .

Includes Romaine.
Incliides Satsumas.

The follo\7ing tables sho'j the amount of a given fruit or vegetable
received in 5 important consumption areas outside the state of origin,
compared v.'ith the total marketed.

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TAJBLE XII

Proportion of SpecifieJL Pru.its and Veget?/bles Marketed in
?ive Principal Constiraing Cities, 133^

Conmodity and Tot-al Carlots a/

State of Origin I!ar]:eted

Carlots?/ Unloaded in Pive
Principal Concui-iinjT,- Cities
Outside Sbate cJi Origin

Per Cent cf
llunoer 'Total Marketed

Grapes (California) 3O.73O 1^,593 H7.5

Tomatoes (Florida) 7, SI 7 3,660 Ho.S

Potatoer, (Maine) 50,012 22,130 14^1.2

Lettuce (California) 3U, O75 13,376 39.3

Source: Conpiled ty IJSA fro^i data of Bureau of j-igriculturpj. Econonics.

a/ Inclxides "boatloads reduced to carlot ccaiivalents, but not

t imc' : shipment s .

TABLE XIII

Proportion of Tv/o ITlorida Pruits Marketed in Pive Principal

Consv-inins States. 193^

Carlots a/ Received b/ in Five
Principal Consuming; States
Pjiicludinr; Florida

Per Cent of
llix.iber Total Ma,rketed

Pnit Total Carlots a/

Marketed

Orances 27,792 20,9S7 75-5

Grapefruit ll|,U02 10,2^2 71.2

Source: Co:rpiled bj' ITRA fron da,ta of Duregiu of A^:ricultural Economics.

a/ Includes boatlords reduced to ca.rlot equivalents, biit

not t'^uck sliipinents.

b/ Includes receipts for reshipment.

Further indication of the extent of interstate shipnent of the above
rnen.tioned fruits njid vegetables is furnished by cLata shcTing the state of
origin of these conmodities unloaded in He'r York City in 193'+« (See Table
XIV.) In the case of ea,ch commodity nentioned, noi'e than 5O P^r cent of
the quantity received in Hev/ York cane fron not nore than 2 to 5 sources.

Potatoes. - IXiring 133^-> 12,6^7 cars of potatoes Tiere received at
Nev York City, of vririch 90.5 per cent cane fron the follov/ing 5 states:
Maine, llort/. Carolinji, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida.

Lettucej - Lettuce totaling 6,790 cars nas received at ilevi York
City in 193^1-j "f v/liich four states, Arizona, California, Florida, tind
Washington furnished 6,237 cars, or 91 '9 P^i' cent of the total.

S5U5

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0 ranges. - During 193'-!-. 17.SS9 cars of oranfjes were received at Hew
Yorl: City, of wliich 17,226, or 99*6 per cent, cane frori California and
Plorida.

Grapes. - Lurin/: 193^> i'Sv; Yorh received 0,767 cars of grapes, of
uhich 7j796 cars were fron California and Pennsylvania; imports included
U30 cars fron the Argentine, ^0 cars fron Chile, and U3O cars fron Spain.
These 5 sources accounted for 99«3 per cent of t]ie total received.

G-ra"oef:.-uit. - Shipnents of i:;ra;oefruit received in He\7 York in 193^
totaled 6,2'l-9 cars, of vrhich practically 100 per cent caine fron the 5
sources listed.

Tonatoes. - Shipnents of tonatoes into Nev; Yorl: City daring 193^
totaled 5»926 cars, of which 3,72S cars were from California, Florida,
Uississippi, eJio. Texas, with 1,6U6 cars fron Cuha. These 5 sources ac-
counted for 90*7 of all the toma.toes received.

S5U5

-14-

TABLE XIV

Carlot Unloads r.t New York City, "by Commodity and
Principal Soorce. 1954

Comraodity and Source

Carlot ssT Comraodity and Soiurce

Garlotss/

Potatoes

G-ra-Des

Maine 10,472
North Carolina 1,459

South Carolina 1,097

Virginia 1,705

Florida 2,136

Total, ahove sources 16,869

Total receipts 18,647
Per cent supplied hy

above sources 90,5

California 7,624

Pennsylvania 172

Argentina 430

Chile 50

Spain 430

Total, ahove sources 8,706

Total receipts 8,767
Per cent supplied "by

atove sources 99.3

Lettuce

GraiD efruit

Arizona

834

California

4,889

Florida

376

Washington

138

Total, ahove sources

6,237

Total receiDts

6,790

Per cent supplied "by

atove sources

91.9

Oranges

California

7,662

Florida

10,164

Total, ahove sources 17,826

Total receipts 17,889
Per cent supplied "by

ahove sources 99,6

California 100

Florida 5,171

Texas 17

Cut a 219

Puerto Rico 741

Total, ahove sources 6,248

Total receipts 6,249
Per cent supplied "by

above sources 100.0

Tomatoes

California

781

Florida

1,409

Mississippi

565

Texas

973

Cuba

1,646

Total, above sources

5,374

Total receipts

5,926

Per cent

sup-olied

ty

above sources

90.7

Sources: Bureau of Agricultural Economics, "Carlot Unloads of Fresh Fruits
and Vegetables, 1934."

a/

Including boatloads reduced to carlot equivalents, but not truck
shipments.

8545

-15-

Exoortr,

Volur.e . - The -orinci-oal erroorts of fresh f^;^it^ from the United Str-tej

in 133'-'- consisted of grapefiiiit, oraiiges, a^^ples,
e.'P'plez, peaches, oeri-ies, and pears.

.'apes, lezions, pine-

32r tjjnpes, the 193^'- exports of these fruits 'jere as follo'.Ts: G-rapc-
fruit, 95S,000 oo::es; lenons, 227,000 "boxes; oranges, 3,318', 000 ho-es;
pineapples, 2S,7So hoxes; apples, 7j355>000 'bozies; also Ul7,000 baskets
and 7*56,000 oarrels; berries, 7sS9S>0'^0 pounds; grapes, 35!l36,000 pounds;
pears, 106, 231,000 pounds, and peaches, ■;, 1^1-6, 000 pov.ndc.

Srports of fresh vegetables in 193^+ consisted chiefly of ;7hite
pot8.toes rjid onions. Srports of potatoes totaled 1,171,000 Ijushels, 3,nd
onions, 327,000 hushels. (Gee Tahle XV).

Value. - A quantitative co: .pari son can:--ot he nade of course between
itens riaving caffcrent unitr of neasure. The crroorts mentioned above
are all e: pressed :n terns of value, ho""'ever, in Ttaole XVI. i'rou this
table it can be seen that in 193^ apples r/ere 'o}' far the most important
iter.! expoi-ted - exports of apples in boxes, baskets p.nd barrels ar:iounting
in all to a little'nore than $lU, 000, 000 out of the total $32,707,000
vorth of fruit exports. Oranges, pears and grapefimit were next in im-
portance in the order mentioned.. The most important vegetable e:rport,
potatoes, accounted for $S0o,000 of the total $3,907,^00 worth of vege-
tables erroorted.

TABLE XV

Qi-iantit-^ of Principal lirports of ?resh :?raits and Vegetables,

I93I-I93U

Articles

(In

Unit

1931

IQ32

1933

193^

thousanci:

Pm.i t s

Gra-'oefruit

bGx.es

1,3^1

1,022

96s

959

Lemons

boxes

25s

21 G

16s

227

Oranges

boxes

U,SU9

3,129

3,395

3,31s

Pineap'oles

boxes

53

2G

15

27

Apples (in

boxes)

boxes

9,966

10,220

7,2'^

7,355

Ap"Dles (in

basket

s)

ba.skets

—

^10

226

1+17

Apples (in

barrel

s)

ba.rrels

2,606

2,130

1,173

766

Berries

-pounds

7,0S9

5,154

7,200

7,S99

G-ra-DCs

pounds

2S,S76

22,237

27,226

35.136

Pears

pounds

L03,Ui6

112,007

105,210

106,231

Peaches

pounds

10,297

3,603

2,7S2

5,lU6

Vegetables

PotOotoes ('.

7hite)

bushels

a/

1,060

912

719

1,171

Onions

bushels

^

562

^'35

Ul'!-

3^-7

Source: B-^re;

:u 01 'J

orei

gn and Domes'

tic Com::

lerce, as }_

)ublished in

the

Stat:

Lstical

Abr

;tract.

a/ B'.ishcls of 60 pounds,
b/ Bushels of 57 pounds.

25^5

-16-

TifflLE XVI

Value of Exports of Fresh Eriiits and Vegetables,

1931-1934
(in thousands)

Article

1931

1932.

1933 -

1954

Fruits

Total

$ 55,249

$39,104

$28,412

$32,707

G-ra'oefrLiit

3,951

2,396

2,181

2,177

Lemons

1,107

819

628

897

Oranges

13, 255

7,112

6,665

8,227

Pinea-oples

155

61

38

72

Apples (in

boxes)

17,608

13,102

8,318

10,187

Apples (in

baskets)

— -

499

414

598

Apples (in

barrels)

11,553

8,816

4,365

3,115

Berries

742

438

411

567

Grapes

1,461

1,060

979

1,541

Pears

4,510

3,994

3,696

4,077

Peaches

339

106

95

170

Other fresh fruits

1,559

701

622

978

Vef^etchles

557

659

808

304

293

345

2,577

2,261

2,753

Total 5,706 3,438 3,213 3,907

Potatoes (white) 901

Onions 577

Other fresh vegetables 4,228

C-raiid Total 61,955 42,542 31,625 36,614

Source: Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, as published in the
Statistical Abstract

8545

-17-

Imports

YoluLie . - Imports of fresh fruits during 193^ consisted chiefly of
the follov/in£^-: "bananas, h'J,G'JS,000 bunches; grapefruit, 7>6U5,000 pounds;
lemons, l,9lS,000 pounds; limes, 5»S32,000 pounds; oerries in natural
state or in "brine, 4,091,000 pounds; cherries, naturrJ, s^olphured, or in
"brine, 1,S10,000 pounds; grapes, 666,000 cuhic feet.

Durin/;- 193^!-j inports of fresh vegeta"bles consisted chiefly of the
following: "beans, green or in "brine, 4,3^6,000 pounds; green peas,, U,575jOOO
pounds; potatoes, white or Irish, 92,293|C)00 pounds; garlic, U,6S3,000
pounds; turnips, SS, 562,000 pounds; tomatoes, natural state, 55j01S,000
pounds; onions, 5,213,000 pounds. (Sce Ta"ble XVII.)

"Value . « As already indicated, compa.rison of itens e:cpressed in
different units of measure is not possi"ble. Prou Taole XVIII, hoTrever,
it can he seen that the dollar volume of our inports of fruit is much
larger thon in the case of vegetables. In 193^ ^l''-^ fruit imports totaled
$27,327,000, while only $U,Ul9,000 worth of vegetables were imported. It
has ^oeen conputed that bananas accounted for nearly S5 per cent of the
fruit imports. Peas and tomatoes each accounted for a little more than
one-fourth of the total imports of vegetables.

S5U5

-Ig-

TA3LE XVII

Quantity of Principal Imports of Fresh Fniits and Vegetables,

1931-1934

Article

Unit

(In thousands)

1931 1933 1933 1934

Fruits

Bananas

G-rapeixuit

Lemons

Limes

Apples

Berries (natural or

in "brine)
Cherries (natural, sul-
phared or in brine)
Grapes

bunches 55,854 49,457 39,613 47,679

pounds 3,957

7,101

2,257

7,545

pounds 20,059

7,714

8,534

1,915

pounds 5,718

4,187

3,278

5,832

bushel sa/ 35

54

7

15

pounds

3,455 2,797 4,025 4,091

pounds 7,099 3,886 1,341 1,810
cubic feet 232 248 250 655

Vei^etables

Bea:is (green or in

brine)

pounds

Peas (green)

pounds

Potatoes (v/hite or

Irish)

pounds

Garlic

pounds

Turnips

pounds

Tomatoes (natural state)

pounds

Onions

pounds

5,aio

21,074

7,322

16

5,628

274,013 43,515

5,557 5,558

92,838 95,343

103,555 119,140
7,684 33,240

5,525 4,345
10,034 4,575

70,805

5,398

95,567

58,134

3,596

92,293

4,583
88,562
55,013

5,213

Source: iureau of Foreign and Domestic Comraerce, as published in the
Statistical Ab s tract .

a/

Bushels of 50 pounds.

8545

-19-

TABLE XVIII

Value of Imports of Presh Fruits and Vegetables,

19S1-1934
(In thousands)

Article 1931 1932 1933 1934

Fruits

Total

$35,142

$28,297

$22,855

$27,387

Plantains

159

167

149

172

Bananas

29,427

24,701

20,205

24,104

G-r apefru.it

208

165

44

125

Lemons

560

209

198

50

Limes

212

131

95

164

Pineapples (natural state)

1,958

917

638

726

Apples

54

100

7

17

Berries (natural or in "brine)

238

189

206

255

Cherries (natiursl , sul-phured

or in brine)

707

281

83

133

Grapes

500

466

359

647

Other fruits (natural, prepared,

or preserved)

1,119

971

871

993

Vef2:eta'bles

Total

9,610

7,229

4,671

4,419

Beans (green or in trine)

194

249

164

120

Peas (green)

1,090

840

468

230

Potatoes (white or Irish)

3,126

393

1,016

1,310

Garlic

210

188

190

159

Turnip s

482

420

656

656

Tomatoes (natural state)

3,253

3,589

1,554

1,249

Onions

130

566

48

89

Other vegetables (fresh)

1,125

984

575

606

Grand Total

44,752

35,526

27,526

31,806

Source: Bureau of Foreign and Dome

stic Commerce, as

puhlished

in the

Statistical Abstract.

8545

-20-

CHiPTEH IV

GENEHAl IKPOHMATION

Trade Associations

The Wholesale Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Distrihutive Industry is highly
organized. The following four leading trade associations were active in for-
mulating a code for the Industry;

(1) The National League of Commission Merchants of the United States,
organized January 6, 18S3, reported a merahership 530 as of January 15, 1934.
This association claims to handle 538,712 carloads annually of the products of
the Industry, or more than 50 pe::- cent of the total.

(2) The American pruit and Vegetable Shippers' Association reported
20,645 raemhers as of January 30, 1934. This number includes 18 cooperative
groi.7ers' associations. No data have been submitted as to the date of its
organization nor the volume of business handled cnnually,

(3) The International Apple Association, which was organized on Augu-st
15, 1929, lias a re-oorted membership of 11,764 growers and shippers who are
organized into 26 aTDple and pear cooperative associations, exchanges, and
marketing organizations. No data have been su.bmitted on the annual voltime of
business handled.

(4) The ijestern Pruit Shippers' Association of America is composed
primarily of shippers. No data have been submitted by it on the date of or-
ganization, nuraber of members, and volume of business.

Labor Organization in the Industry

Large grou'os of employees in this Industry are not organized. Those
employees v?ho are members of unions consist generally of truck drivers,
teamsters, and others engaged in allied trans'oortation activities. Chicago
and New York are said to have strong unions, with iDOssibly some existing also
in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and other large cities.

List of Prperts

1. Industry Members:

E. W. J. Hearty,- Chairman,

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Council,

99 Hudson Street,

New York, New York,

Wra. L. i,7agner, Secretary,
Western Fi-uit Jobbers' Association
1425 South Racine Street,
Chicago, Illinois.

L. J. Keach, former ChairraaJi,
Code Authority,
105 South Delaware: Street,
Indiananolis, Indiana,
8545

-21-

Horace E. Herr, Secretary,

National League of Commission Merchants,

512 P Street, IT. W. ,

Washington, D. C.

George Lafbury, President

National League of Coramission Merchants,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Aubrey Milam, President,
Green-Milam Company,
Atlanta, Georgia.

E. S. 3riggs, Ilanager,

Aiisrican Fruit a.nd Vegetable Shippers' Association,

1425 South Racine Street,

Chi cago , 1 11 ino is.

Robert "iT. Nix, Vice President,
Jolin Nix and Company,
New York, New York,

John A. Martin, General Manager,
Wesco Foods Company,
1425 South Racine Street,
Chicago, Illinois,

R. G. Phillips, Secretary,
International Apple Association,
1108 Mercantile Building,
Rochester, New York

2. Government Officials;

R. C. Butner,

Senior Marketing Specialist,
Special Crops Section, AAA.,
Washington, D. C.

W. B. White,

U. S. Food and Drug Administration,
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.

porter Taylor,

Special Crops Section, AAA,

Washington, D. C.

E. L. Markell,

Special Crops Section, AAA,

Washington, D. C.

Charles H. Walleigh,
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.

8545

-23-

W. A. Sherraan, Associate Chief,
Biireau of Agricultioral Economics,
Division of Fruits and Vegetables,
U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.

r. G. Eotb, Chief,
Division of Fruits and Vegetables,
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.

8545-4