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Agricultural Economics Series
Mimeo Report 56-9
STATISTICS ON PRODUCTION ,
SHIPMENTS AND PRICES OF FLORIDA CUCUMBER-'--=.-.
By
Donald L. Brooke
Legend:
U Value
Production
1925-26
1929-30
1930-31 1935-36
1934-35 1939-40
5 Season Averages
IN
1940-41
1944-45
1945-46
1949-50
1950-
1954-
Value
(1,000 Dollars)
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
o
51
55
FIG. 1. PRODUCTION AND VALUE OF FLORIDA CUCUMBERS, 5-SEASON AVERAGES,
1920-21 TO 1954-55
Department of Agricultural Economics
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
Gainesville, Florida
April 1956
Production
(1,000 Bu.)
3,000-
2,500-
2,000 -
1,500-
1,000-
1920-21
1924-25
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY. . . . . .
INTRODUCTION . . . .
PRODUCTION OF CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA . . .
Trend in Acres, Yield, Production and Value .
Relative Trend in the Production of Cucumbers
in Florida and the United States. . .
Trend in Fall, W1inter and Spring Acreage in Florida
Estimated Current Season Production .
Trend in Acreage by District and Season in Florida.
MOVEMENT OF CUCUMBERS . . . .
Shipment of Cucumbers from Florida and Other States .
Imports from Cuba . o a .a
Shipment of Cucumbers by Districts from Florida .
PRICES OF CUCUMBERS. . . .
*@ *9 a
* a @ e .
*0 *eaO
* a
0 0 a 0 a 0
a..
a..
* 0 0
Relationship of Production and Price of Cucumbers . .
Variation in Monthly Prices of Cucumbers, . . .
Seasonal Variation in Cucumber Prices *. . *
Relationship of Seasonal Production to Price of Florida Cucumbers
Relationship of Prices for Florida Cucumbers to the General
Level of All Farm Prices and Prices Received for Commercial
Vegetables in the United States . .
COST OF PRODUCING CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA. . . . .
COST OF HARVESTING, PACKING AND SELLING CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA .
SUMMARY
Cucumbers for fresh market are produced primarily in the peninsular sec-
tion of Florida, east of the Suwannee River. The acreage planted to cucumbers
in Florida has doubled and production has tripled in the past 15 seasons,
During the five-season period 1940-41 to 19h4-h4 Florida growers harvested
an annual average of 760,000 bushels of cucumbers from 7,800 acres. During
the period 1950-51 to 1995-55 their annual harvest averaged 3,164,000 bushels
from 16,640 acres. The average yield during the two periods was 97 and 190
bushels per acre, respectively. The average value of the crop increased from
$2,434,000 in the earlier period to an average of $8,942,000 in the latter
five-season period.
United States production of cucumbers for fresh market has increased by
75 percent in the past 20 seasons. In the same period Florida production has
increased by more than four times. Florida is producing about 40 percent of
the total United States crop for fresh market use.
The general trend in seasonal acreage and production in Florida has been
upward since the early 19o40s. Winter acreage, first reported at 400 acres in
194h-45 has increased to 2800 acres planted in 1955-56 of which, it is estimated,
only 1500 acres were harvested. During the five-season period 1950-51 to 1954-
55 fall acreage represented 28 percent, winter 12 percent and spring acreage
60 percent of the State total. Nearly one-half of the fall, two-thirds of the
winter, and one-third of the spring acreage is in District II, District I
contained one-seventh of the fall, one-third of the winter and one-seventh of
the spring acreage during the 1950-51 to 1995-55 period.
Shipments of cucumbers from Florida normally begin in early October and
continue until June. Movement of domestic cucumbers is light during February
2
and early larch. Heaviest Florida shipments are in November, April and May,
Movement from other states, primarily Texas, begins in May and is not partic-
ularly heavy during Florida's season.
Imports from Cuba are increasing and are apparently Florida's principal
competition in the market. Imports run from December through March of most
seasons and are heaviest in February or early 2Jrch.
Prices received for Florida cucumbers are highest in February or March
and lowest during the fall and late spring months, Price is inversely related
to production, being high when production is low and vice versa. This same
relationship is evident in the seasonal price. Prices generally have declined
for cucumbers since their peak during World TWar II. Florida cucumber prices
tend to fluctuate with, but more erratically than, prices received by farmers
in the United States for commercial vegetables and all farm products. The
index of cucumber prices in Florida (1935-39 = 100) has been below United
States index of prices received by farmers for all farm products since 1946.
Costs of growing cucumbers have been increasing generally. Yield is a
most important factor in determining per-unit costs of production, and since
yields have been erratic by areas, so have per-unit costs.
Harvesting costs for the 1954-55 season varied from $0.51 to $1.46 per
bushel in Florida, depending upon how the harvest and sale was handled. For
sales in bulk at auction, costs to the grower include only picking, hauling
and sales charges -- ranging from $0.51 to $0.56 per bushel equivalent. Sales
on a packed-out basis include the cost of packing and container in addition
to picking, hauling and sales charges -- ranging from $1.21 to $1.46 per
bushel,
STATISTICS ON PRODUCTION, SHIPMENTS AND
PRICES OF CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA
by
Donald L. BrookeI/
INTRODUCTION
This publication was prepared to present selected statistical data relat-
ing to the production and marketing of cucumbers for fresh market in Florida.
These data are needed by commodity groups and others as factual background
information for use in making policy decisions on marketing and other problems
relating to the cucumber industry in the State.
PRODUCTION OF CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA
Cucumbers for fresh market are produced, for the most part, in the
peninsular section of Florida, east of the Suwannee River. Seasonality,
occasioned by weather differences, further divides the State into producing
areas. The fall and spring crops are grown generally throughout the peninsu-
lar portion of the State. The winter crop is confined to those areas in the
southern portion of the peninsula which are relatively free of killing frosts.
These areas include the Lower East Coast Area of St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin,
Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties and the Lower West Coast Area of Charlotte,
Glades, Lee, Collier and Monroe Counties.
Trend in Acres, Yield, Production and Value
Acres The harvested acreage of cucumbers in Florida since 1920 has ranged
from 5,000 acres in the 1933-34 season to 18,700 acres in the 1953-54 season,
1/ Associate Agricultural Economist, Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations,
Gainesville, Florida. Acknowledgments: The author wishes to express his
thanks for valuable assistance to Messrs. J. B. Owens, G. N. Rose and Clyas
L. Crenshaw of the Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Orlando,
and to Mr. E. F. Scarborough, Florida State Marketing Bureau, Jacksonville,
Florida.
(Table 1 and Fig. 2). The acreage harvested was relatively high during the
decade of the 1920ts. From 1930-31 to 19hh-S4 harvested acreage was down,
averaging 7,800 acres or less in each of three consecutive five-year periods.
Acreage increased sharply after 1944-45. During the last five-year period,
1950-51 to 195h-5, an average of 16,640 acres was harvested per season,
Yield per acre Cucumber yields have shown a significant increase during
the past ten seasons Pleather is, of course, a most important factor in deter-
mining yield and price. is another. Increased applications of fertilizer,
improved spray and dust materials and better methods of insect and disease
control have also been factors of considerable import. In only two seasons
prior to Viorld T1ar II were average yields as high as 145 bushels per acre4
Since World Jfar II yields have averaged 145 bushels per acre or more in seven
out of ten seasons. The highest season average yield of record was 221 bushels
per acre reported in 1950-51. The average annual yield of the most recent five
year period was 190 bushels per acre. This was more than twice the average
yield of the period 1940-41 to 1944-45,
Production The 3,169,000 bushels sold in the 1952-53 season is the
greatest production of value on record. Total production was greater in 1953-
54 but not all of it was sold. For the five seasons, 19 0-51 to 1954-55, pro-
duction of value averaged 2,929,000 bushels. This was 65 percent greater than
the previous five-season average and from two to more than four times greater
than the production of any five-year period prior to 1946-0,.
Value Increased acreage, a greater yield, and the fifth highest season
average price on record combined to give the highest crop value of $10,529,000
to cucumbers in the 1951-52 season. Crop value during the past three seasons
2/ When prices are high growers tend to take better care of the plants in
order to harvest over a longer period of time, thereby increasing total
yield.
Table 1. -
All Cucumbers Acreage, Yield, Production and Value in Florida,
1920-21 to 1954-55 and Five-Season Averages, 1920-21 to 1954-55
: Acres : Yield : Production : Average : Total
Season :harvested: per acre: Total : Of value: price : value
1920-21
1921-22
1922-23
1923-24
1924-25
1925-26
1926-27
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
1931-32
1932-33
1933-34
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
1937-38
1938-39
1939-4o
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
19o0-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
Five-season averages
1920-21 1924-25
1925-26 1929-30
1930-31 1934-35
1935-36 1939-40
1940-41 1944-45
1945-46 1949-50
1950-51 1954-55
(Bushels) (Thousand bushels)
6,500
10,380
10,760
12,370
10,830
7,590
7,720
9,420
11,400
12,100
9,650
7,300
5,600
5,000
5,100
5,700
5,600
7,000
7,600
8,200
8,800
9,700
6,500
6,300
7,700
11,200
14,750
14,600o
12,850
14,300
li,300
15,600
18,500
18,700
16,100
10,168
9,646
6,530
6,820
7,800
13,540
16,640
120
120
93
81
116
146
135
80
103
54
100
53
64
95
93
82
65
121
115
145
121
94
80
73
110
136
94
133
149
160
221
180
171
182
205
104
98
81
110
97
134
190
780
1,246
1,001
1,002
1,257
1,108
1,0o42
754
1,169
649
961
390
361
474
473
468
364
850
876
1,186
1,064
912
$20
459
844
1,520
1,380
1,942
1,917
2,283
3,157
2,806
3,169
3,395
3,294
1,057
9194
532
7149
760
1,808
3,164
780
1,246
1,001
1,002
1,257
1,108
1,042
754
1,169
649
961
390
361
474
473
468
364
850
876
1,186
1,064
912
520
459
844
1,444
1,380
1,891
1,876
2,247
2,647
2,806
3,169
2,935
3,089
1,057
944
532
749
760
1,768
2,929
(Dollars
per bushel)
2.50
1.95
3.10
2.13
2.42
3.19
1.90
2.)3
2.57
2.48
1.35
1.68
1.75
1.78
1.62
1.98
3.02
1.24
1.59
1.63
1.75
2.24
4.98
4.53
4.27
3.72
3.75
3.24
3.11
2.89
2.64
3.75
3.15
2.72
2.99
2.40
2.53
1.58
1.71
3.20
3.28
3.05
Source: U.S.D.A., A.M.S. Commercial Truck Crops 1918-41,
1939-50 and Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting
Vegetable Crops, 1955.
Commercial Vegetables,
Service, Florida
(Thousand
dollars)
1,950
2,430
3,103
2,137
3,038
3, 538
1,980
1,834
3,007
1,607
1,293
655
633
845
765
928
1,101
1,052
1,391
1,938
1,859
2,042
2,592
2,079
3,600
5,374
5,170
6,131
5,836
6,485
6,998
10,529
9,967
7,975
9,239
2,532
2,393
838
1,282
2,434
5,799
8,942
- -
C.)
o wi
00
so
P., 0
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7
has been only slightly below the peak. The average annual value of the five-
season average, 1950-$1 to 1954-55, was nearly nine million dollars, 50 percent
above the annual average value of the 1946-50 period and ten times that of the
period 1931-35. (Fig. 1).
Relative Trend in the Production of Cucumbers
in Florida and the United States
From 1935 to 1955 there has been an increase of 75 percent in the total
production of cucumbers for fresh market in the United States, (Fig. 3). This
is a relatively small increase when compared with that of Florida for the same
period. Florida's production increased quite rapidly after 1945. In four of
the past five seasons Florida's production has been four times the average of
the 1935-39 period. Florida is presently producing about O0 percent of the
total United States crop for fresh market consumption. During the 1935-39
period Florida's production averaged only 13 percent of the United States total,
Trend in Fall, YJinter and Spring Acreage in Florida
Fall The general trend in acreage of fall cucumbers has been upward over
the past 15 seasons. (Table 2 and Fig. 4). The 5,000 acres harvested in the
1952-53 and 1954-55 seasons ere more than two and one-half time the acreage
of 1940-l41 By five-season periods the average of 4,160 acres per season for
1951-55 is more than double the average acreage of the 1941-45 period. The
greatest increase in fall acreage harvested occurred during the period 1944-45
to 1946-47. Acreage harvested in 1946-47 was nearly four times that harvested
two seasons earlier. The high prices of the 1943-44 and 1944-45 seasons were
largely responsible for this increase.
Winter Acreage of winter cucumbers was not large enough to be reported
as a definite seasonal movement until the 1944-45 season when O00 acres were
so noted. Since that time the winter plantings have increased more than six-
fold. Some 2,500 acres of winter cucumbers were harvested for fresh market in
Index
r *
I'
I
/
VI
I
I
I
/'s /
/ ""
/1
I
/ \ ^
I
,' n /S
---\ --United States
200.
I I I 19
1950 19
Fig. 3. Cucumbers Relative Trend in Production, United
States and Florida, 1935 to 1955 (1935-39 = 100)
500
0oo
300
Florida---,
I
0
1935
19h0
, I J I
1945
Years
100
Table 2. -
Cucumbers Acreage, Yield, Production and Value by Seasons
in Florida, 1940-41 to 1954-55 and Five-Season Averages.
: Acres : Yield : Production : Average
Season :harvested: per acre: Total : Of Value: price
(Bushels) (Thousand bushels) (Dollars
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-5.2
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
Five-season averages
1940-41 1944-45
1945-46 1949-50
1950-51 1954-55
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
Five-season averages
1945-46 1949-50
1950-51 1954-55
1,800
2,000
2,000
1,800
1,200
2,700
4,700
4,200
, 000
3,700
3,100
3,300
5,000
4,400
5,000
1,760
3,860
4,160
o00
800
350
1,500
1,300
2,600
500
1,600
2,300
2,200
2,500
1,310
1,820
105
90
80
105
70
125
95
120
180
210
210
200
180
210
235
91
144
207
70
130
100
100
195
210
100
155
120
145
135
166
135.
Fall
189
180
160
189
84
338
446
504
720
777
651
660
900
924
1,175
160
557
862
Winter
28
lo0
35
150
254
546
o0
2,48
276
319
338
218
246
per bushel)
189
180
160
189
84
332
446
475
679
777
651
660
900
860
1,075
160
542
829
28
lo4
35
128
254
546
50
248
276
319
338
213
246
1.50
2.60
3.60
5.00
6.35
3.75
4.10
3.50
1.90
2.00
3.00
4.35
2.75
2.50
2.50
3.51
2.80
2.93
6.30
6.75
9.50
3.50
4.50
3.25
8.50
6.15
4.35
5.80
4.40
4.13
5.28
: Total
Value
(Thousand
dollars)
284
468
576
945
533
1,245
1,829
1,662
1,290
1,554
1,953
2,871
2,475
2,150
2,688
561
1,516
2,427
176
702
332
448
1,143
1,774
425
1,525
1,201
1,850
1,487
880
1,298
Table 2. -
Cucumbers Acreage, Yield, Production and Value by Seasons in
Florida, 1940-41 to 1954-55 and Five-Season Averages (Concluded).
: Acres : Yield : Production : Average : Total
Season :harvested: per acre: Total : Of value: price : value
(Bushels) (Thousand bushels) (Dollars (Thousand
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
7,000
7,700
4,500
4,500
6,100
7,700
8,700
7,600
6,600
7,100
10,000
8,600
9,300
10,300
7,000
Five-season averages
1940-41 1944-45
1945-46 1949-50
1950-51 1954-55
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
Five-season average
1950-51 1954-55
5,960
7,540
9,040
1,000
1,300
950
900
700
2,100
1,900
1,800
1,600
1,620
125
95
80
60
120
140
90
165
135
125
240
195
200
195
235
100
130
212
Spring
875
732
360
270
732
1,078
783
1,254
891
888
2,400
1,677
1,860
2,008
1,645
594
979
1,918
Processing
116 116
26 34
55 52
80 72
80
105
70
80
85
56
221
133
144
136
130
per bushel) dollars)
875
732
360
270
732
1,008
783
1,254
891
852
1,890
1,677
1,860
1,612
1,540
594
958
1,716
116
34
52
72
56
221
133
144
136
1.80
2.15
5.60
4.20
3.95
3.40
3.65
3.15
3.75
3.60
2.40
3.40
3.25
2.35
3.20
3.09
3.47
2.91
1.30
2.10
1.20
1.25
1.50
1.95
1.85
1.30
1.00
1.57
1,575
1,574
2,016
1,134
2,891
3,427
2,858
3,950
3,341
3,067
4,536
5,702
6,045
3,788
4,928
1,838
3,329
5,000
151
71
62
90
84
431
246
187
136
217
Source: U.S.D.A., A.M.S. Commercial Truck Crops 1918-41,
1939-50 and Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting
Vegetable Crops, 1955.
Commercial Vegetables,
Service, Florida
Acres
10,000 \ /
/ \ / \
9,000 /
Spr /
7,000
6,000 /
\ /
/
Fall
U,000 //
4,000 -
3,000 -
2,000 W inter, /\\
1,000
S'" ;,'Processing ,'
1940-41 1944-45 1949-50 1954-.
Seasons
Fig Cucumbers Trend in Acreage Harvested Fall, Winter and
Spring Fresh Market and Spring for Processing, Florida,
Seasons 1940-41 to 1954-55.
12
the 1954-55 season. The average of the five-season period 1950-51 to 1954-55
was 1,820 acres annually as compared with 1,310 acres annually in the previous
five seasons.
Spring The trend in acreage harvested during the spring period has been
upward since 1942-43. Some 10,300 acres of spring cucumbers were harvested in
1953-54 as compared with 4,500 acres in 1942-43. The average of 9,000 acres
harvested per season for the period 1950-51 to 1954-55 is 52 percent greater
than the 5,960 acre average of the 1940-41 to 1944-45 period.
Estimated Current Season Production
Preliminary estimates of Florida cucumber acreage, yield and production
for the 1955-56 season are shown in Table 3. Some 5,600 acres of fall cucum-
bers produced an estimated total of 1,344,000 bushels of which 1,244,000 bushelE
were sold. This was an increase of 600 acres and 169,000 bushels of cucumbers
of value over the 1954-55 season.
Table 3. Cucumbers Estimated Acreage, Yield and Production
for Fresh Market in Florida, Season 1955-56
C : Acreage : : Production
Crop : Planted : Harvested : Yield : Totai : Of Value
bushels Thousand bushels
Fall 5,600 5,600 20 1,3L4 1,2L4
Winter 2,800 1,500 110 165 165
Springl/ 8,100 7,800 175 1,365 1,365
Total 16,500 14,900 2,874 2,774
1/ Fresh only. Pickle crop estimated at 1,200 acres additional.
Source: U.S.D.A., A.MI.S., Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting
Service, Preliminary Data, April, 1956.
Planted acreage during the winter is indicated at 2800 acres of which only
1500 were harvested. The winter crop was severely damaged by cold weather.
Production of value was only 165,000 bushels as compared with 338,000 bushels
in the 1954-55 season.
13
Spring production of 1,365,000 bushels from 7,800 acres is indicated for
the 1955-56 season. This is 175,000 bushels less than the marketed production
of 1954-55. WVeather, both cold and dry, has cut 1955-56 yields materially.
Total production for fresh market is estimated at 2,874,000 bushels for
the 1955-56 season, as compared with 3,158,000 bushels in 1995-55 and 3,026,000
bushels annually for the five-season period 1950-51 to 1954-55. Acreage har-
vested in 1955-56 is 400 acres greater than in the previous season and 120
acres smaller than the annual harvested acreage for fresh market consumption
during the 1950-51 to 1954-55 period.
Trend in Acreage by District and Season in Florida
For the purposes of this report and the convenience of the intended user
the State has been divided into four production districts according to the
terms of the proposed cucumber marketing agreement. These districts are shown
in Fig. 5.
The trend in acreage by districts and seasons for the past 11 seasons is
shown in Table 4 and Fig. 6, Acreage has increased from 10,170 acres in the
1945-46 season to l6,355 acres harvested in the 1952-53 seasons It is estimated
that 14,510 acres will be harvested in the 1955-56 season for fresh market use
in the four districts.
The acreage harvested during the fall has been more erratic by districts
than for the State as a whole. Acreage in Districts I and IV has decreased
slightly during the period. Acreage in District III has been fairly stable
while that in District II has been increasing rather rapidly.
In terms of relative importance during the two most recent five-season
periods, fall acreage in District I decreased from 25 percent to 14 percent of
the State total. Acreage in District III decreased from 4h to 30 percent and
that in District IV decreased from lh to 10 percent. Acreage harvested in
177 13
55 I46 32 -
5! :5. 6 ,<".. .- ., / : 1
66 67 --- 20 2 -- h
-Z 7 33 6 16
261 '12 .
39 65 62
1i 1
18
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COUMTTIE3 IN FLORIDA 38
IIU :BERED TO AGREE '.iTH KEY iMP '2 :
1. Alachua 35. Lake 9
2. Baker 36. Lee -..60
3. Bay 37. Leon 27 3 4: g
4. Bradford 38. Levy 1 ...
5. Brevard 39. Liberty 14 4 5
6. Broward 40. Madison 29
7. Calhoun 41. Manatee 23
8. Charlotte 42. Marion 3
9. Citrus 43. Martin III 'i 25 7 '7
10. Clay b~. Monroe -
11. Collier 45. Nassau .. 28 '
12. Columbia 46. Okaloosa 1
13. Dade 47. Okeechobee 8
1 DeSoton Orane : 8
Dixie
Duval
Escambia
F agler
Franklin
Gadsden
Gilchrist
Glades
Gulf
Hamilton
Hardee
Hendry
Hernando
Highlands
Hillsborough
Holmes
Indian River
Jackson
Jefferson
Lafayette
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
614.
65.
66.
67.
Osceola
Palm Beach
Pasco
Pinellas
Polk
Putnam
Santa Rosa
Sarasota
Seminole
St. Johns
St. Lucie
Sumter
Suwannee
Taylor
Union
Volusia
'lrakulla
1alton
,Washington
36 ;
II i
Fig. 5.- Division of Peninsular
Florida into Cucumber
Producing Areas.
(Proposed Marketing
Agreement Districts)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
3L.
000.Lr
0 o0 0 l
co \.0O cj
"NtIn 0- 0
%0o 0- coq
Nr-
0000
CM r-.
0'x O0 O
H 0 H o\
N- m rI
CMl r-f
0 0 V\
\ -00
O'S.
-H
0
to
0)
C,
pf.
04
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43 I
IA
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1! 0
0
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80
0
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0 rA
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0 0
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oo
0 0
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OO \
CM
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ltV \ 'A '-
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HHHP H
HHH r
H 4H
0
E-<
N-- N.- ,, cN-
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A
Cl 0-r\ tCM
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mo o'o -
r H
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U H
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.o
*H
0
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00
c 0
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*P
t O
0 0*
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ri
40
a) 0
a
o Q)
.0
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o
*H 0
m
c0
Ci2q
U4
H 0
) 0
SI l
A r4
k*H
rl 0
0)
ro
5.4
os .
HH
> O**
Fall
4 e.4-v..4 ,. T"t
Percel
100
75
50
25 N2
0 '
*' ": "' ', ." \-'s s." .. "
'" : t "i :* .. ,.'* .*'
S: :.. '1" District I
* -~--'--- A-:\~.~ .~" \\--d
. *;.*.
.. '~,.
*\ .. %*I. .
It '( N A.
~'. S .,~,*.* .i-..
.Winter
75 :' : '"' ...
... :: .. : ..' '. .- < A,:', : -. : ... ",:,: ,. District II
'. ', ." ,
.? ". '. : ..,. :,. . : .
25 ':.:. ,. :.. District I .' .,.
0 6 4
0 ... .. ` .. +.' : / ,, ,: .. +,+ + o ; p
"J | _" i .;- .. "t +. + : "
""
'NCZ\
"N' \\
i.~
Years
Fig. 6. Cucumbers Percent of Acreage Harvested by Season and Production
District in Florida, 1945-h6 to 1955-56.
nt
ooo
-'-N.
District III9.J .
'NN
A.::: ::: ... N\>$: \\\: \\.: :i \\QxN'..\ \ %\\\\'>
N K $ \ N N \ "- '
N..
NV N:.
:: : :: 'n, 4. 4
:: ~:::::--Z x
1 nn
C
Winter
17
Percent p 17
100 Spring
75 District IV
50. .. ... /... \.. ....\
SD'istrict III \
25:: -. ::.:- :, ;;:::' District II: ,.. : D:t.ri:
,"" --::' - ". "-"' ,:I 4 "
25", -',.\
: -;": .:-: r. c:-- I I strict I.
100 Total Fresh Market
.... ... ...........
:District: I:
.. .... District "-7 '",
Fig. 6. Cucumbers Percent of Acreage Harvested by Season and Production
District in Florida, 19'5-46 to 195-5 (concluded).
.t !.District I : ". ,,'- ""
"" '" :', ." : i". .. ., ., .. .. :,.,, :: ,4,],~ :. .. .r .: .,,.... ,,, \....[ ,,:. ,
0 .... "" ...... .- t ... : .;: .. / t i : : : : ; : : ; I '
18
District II increased from 17 percent of the total fall acreage in the 1945-46
to 1949-50 period to 46 percent in the 1950-51 to 1954-55 period. An increase
is again indicated in fall acreage in District II during the 1955-56 season.
(Table $)/
Winter acreage is confined primarily to that portion of the State which
is relatively free of frost namely, Districts I and II. During the current
season acreage is quite evenly divided between these districts. During the
past 11 seasons, however, the acreage harvested in District I has decreased
while that in District II has increased. Only one percent of the winter acreage<
is grown in District III and none in District IV.
Planting is heavy in all districts during the spring season. The acreage
for harvest has been decreasing in Districts III and IV and increasing in
Districts I and II. During the 1955-56 season one-third of the spring acreage
is in District II and approximately one-fifth in each of the other districts.
MOVEMENT OF CUCUMBERS
Statistics on the movement of fresh cucumbers out of Florida are not as
reliable as would be desired because they include truck movement of cucumbers
imported into Florida from Cuba, the Bahamas or Puerto Rico. These imports are
sold through local Florida markets and either consumed in Florida or moved by
truck or rail to Northern markets. Imports moving out of Florida by rail are
so reported. Truck drivers passing road guard stations report the point of
loading in Florida and either do not know or fail to report part or all of the
load as imported cucumbers to be shown separately in truck movement. Thus,
carlot equivalent movement of cucumbers is inaccurate as to quantity moved by
producing districts by the amount of such imports reported originating as
3/ Season total acreages shown in Tables 4 and 5 do not include acreage har-
vested outside these designated districts. Therefore, the totals do not
agree with State totals for fresh market cucumbers shown elsewhere in this
report.
Table 5. -
Cucumbers Acreages and Percent of Acreages for Haivest by Producing
Districts and Crop Season, Florida, (East and South of the Suwannee
River). Five-Season Averages 1945-46 to 1949-50, 1950-51 to 1954-55
and 1955-56/ Season.
: :Perceht of-.District
: Acreage for Harvest by Crop Season: : and Season Acreage for Harvest
: Five-season: Five-season: : :Five-season: Five-season:
average : average : : : average : average :
District : 1945-46 to : 1950-51 to : 1955-56 : : 1945-46 to : 1950-51 to : 1955-56
1949-50 : 1954-55 : : : 19L9-50 : 1954-55 :
820
2,610
1,760
295
Fall
5,485
Winter
750
735
15
1,500
Spring/
1,55o
2,550
1,700
1,725
25.0
17.0
44.1
13.9
31.6
56.0
38.7
5.3
10.7
10.1
3.1
32.2
54.6
593
1,880
1,227
395
4,095
629
1,182
9
1,820
1,203
2,785
2,211
2,622
8,821
2,425
5,847
3,41h5
3,019
14,736
14,$10
100.0
Percent
14.5
45.9
30.0
9.6
27.8
34.6
64.9
.5
12.3
13.6
31.6
25.1
29.7
59.9
16.5
39.6
23.4
20.5
100.0
Preliminary.
Includes small acreage for pickles in District IV.
Source: U.S.D.A., A.M.S. Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Florida
Vegetable Crops, Vols. VII and XI.
Acreage
I
Total
III
IV
Total
960
655
1,695
534
3,844
I
II
III
IV
733
507
70
7,525 57.7
Total Fresh Iarket2/
3,120 19.7
5,895 11.3
3,475 33.1
2,020 35.9
Total
I
II
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
Total
1,310
707
215
2,265
3,806
7,027
2,400
1,377
4,030
4,374
12,181
16 .9
47.6
32.1
5.4
37.8
50.0
49.0
1.0
10.3
20.6
33.9
22.6
22.9
51.9
21.5
40.6
24.0
13.9
100.0
20
domestic shipment. The bulk of this movement is from District I with a small
portion from District II and perhaps a minor amount from District III. A
further breakdown of the statistics is not available.
Shipment of Cucumbers from Florida and Other States
Domestic cucumber shipments from Florida normally begin in early October
of each year. Movement is heavy by November 1, peaks in late November and de-
clines to a low point in February. April and early May are again periods of
heavy movement with a rapid decline in shipments in late May and early June.
(Tables 6 and 7 and Figs. 7 and 8).
Florida has very little competition from other states producing cucumbers,
Normally a few cars move from other states in the fall and none at all from
November through April. In May and June of each year movement is reported from
Texas and a minor amount from other Southern States. Florida movement (domestic
was approximately 6,100 carlot equivalents in the 1954-55 season and 3,600 cars
to April 1 of the 1955-56 season. Movement from other states totalled 459 cars
during the 19954-5 Florida season. The fact that all states are not reporting
truck movement, as Florida and Texas do.- makes the "Other States" data on
shipments relatively unreliable as to total movement.
Imports from Cuba
Imports of cucumbers from Cuba normally begin about mid-December of each
season. They reach a peak in February or early March and are usually out of
the picture by early April. During the 19954-5 season some 1L36 carlot equiv-
alents were imported from Cuba. During the current season to April 1 more than
1,800 carlots had been imported.
Shipment of Cucumbers by Districts from Florida
Some movement is reported from all districts from October through May with
a relatively light movement from Districts III and IV in June. January through
Table 6. -
Week :
ending :
Oct. 2
9
16
23
30
Nov. 6
13
20
27
Dec. 4
11
18
25
Jan. 1.
8
15
22
29
Feb. 5
12
19
26
Mar. 5
12
19
26
Apr. 2
9
16
23
30
May 7
14
21
28
June 4
11
18
Total
Cucumbers Weekly Summary of Carlot Shipments from Florida,
States and Imports During the Florida Season, 1954-$5.
SDome s t i c : Imports
: F'lorida : : : :
.tR
1
Other :
States :
Truck
22/
13
45
101
183
203
193
276
133
189
160
153
110
136
187
155
189
158
134
134
121
110
109
114
100
105
72
104
270
461
447
267
209
140
128
101
30
2
5744
: Ra
Truck Ra
b
ail & :
boat/ Total
2J
13
8 53
16 117
30 213
60 263
68 261
91 367
51 1814
70 259
42 202
27 180
21 131
19 155
24 211
24 179
48 237
25 183
26 160
24 158
15 136
10 120
10 119
10 124
7 107
5 110
3 75
8 112
74 344
203 664
270 717
209 476
173 382
36 176
2r 153
25 126
4 34
2
1761 7505
Competing
2
1
1
6
20
32
32
84
158
123
459
1/ Includes mixed-car shipments.
2/ Imports moving out of Florida by truck are included in the Florida Truck
except for amounts removed in estimating Florida consumption. Total
Domestic volume has been corrected to reflect Florida and Other States movement
insofar as possible by subtracting imports moving out by truck. A more accurate
breakdown is not available,.
3/ Includes 1 car lot shipped week ending September 4.
17/ Repack shrinkage or local consumption.
Source: Florida State Marketing Bureau, Annual Fruit and Vegetable Report, 1995-55
Season and U.S.D.A., A. .S. Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Florida Vegetable Crops, 1955.
Total :
Domestic2*
21/
13
,53
117
215
264
262
367
1814
259
202
163
111
111
104
60
147
95
640
61Y/
8
-lo/
23
42
79
41
97
341
664
717
482
102
208
185
210
192
125
6574
il & : Total : Total
cat : Imports: crop
22/
13
53
117
215
264
262
367
184
259
202
17 180
2 22 133
2 46 157
1 108 212
1 120 180
2 92 239
5 93 188
3 123 163
2 166 160
5 133 141
2 117 122
3 132 122
1 102 125
5 70 112
10 41 120
1 35 76
15 112
1 4 345
664
717
482
402
208
185
210
192
125
16 1136 8010
17
20
4h
107
119
90
88
120
164
128
115
129
101
65
31
34
15
3
1390
Table 7. Cucumbers Weekly Summary of Carlot Shipments from Florida, Competing
States and Imports During the Florida Season,
October 1, 1955 to April 1, 1956.
Don
lorida
: Rail & :
: boat]/:
nestic
:otal Oth
total: stall
11
53
137
176
263
199
267
313
277
257
234
194
159
228
208
147
1140
163
154
176
168
194
170
213
252
281
346
Im
:
er
tes :
Total T
domestics! Truck
19
60
140
178
263
199
267
313
277
257
234
187
115
139
118
55
34
5
0
13
7Y
8
-18&/
38
111
260
3l0o
1
Oct. 1
8
15
22
29
Nov. 5
12
19
26
Dec. 3
10
17
24
31
Jan. 7
14
21
28
Feb, 4
11
18
25
Mar. 3
10
17
24
31
ports r
Rail & Total :
boat /" Imports:
8
4o
101
138
192
160
209
255
193
188
173
157
133
186
169
126
119
143
136
157
143
161
148
176
204
236
286
7
44
89
90
92
106
160
157
166
178
187
192
180
146
26
11
Total 4337
1043 5380
3605
1795
36 1831 5436
1/ Includes mixed-car shipments.
/Imports moving out of Florida by truck are included in the Florida Truck
except for amounts removed in estimating Florida consumption. Total
Domestic volume has been corrected to reflect Florida and Other States movement
insofar as possible by subracting imports moving out by truck. A more accurate
breakdown is not available. .
3/ January 1956 the NYC unloads showed 1 Puerto Rico.
17/ Repack shrinkage or local consumption.
-/ Includes 1 Bahama.
Source: Unpublished data, Florida State Marketing Bureau, Annual Fruit and Vegetable
Report, 1954-55 Season and U.S.D.A., A.M.S. Florida Crop and Livestock
Reporting Service, Florida Vegetable Crops, 1955.
F
Truck
Week
ending
7
44
89
90
92
106
158
154
163
175
186
188
175
141
212/
6
23
3
3
3
1
4
5
5
5
Total
crop
19
60
140
178
263
199
267
313
277
257
234
194
159
228
208
147
14o
165
157
179
171
195
174
218
257
286
351
:
:*
(DI
Cd 0(
-', 4'
COJ
H
,ii
co
.0 4
0)
1O. 0 V
r.l
: j :'i P4I
I 0I
i `Oi
4' Ha
EO~
~U
0
r-il
0)
04'
C\J PrA
C, E
H f
.I
cir -CM
a,0
0~. u~ 1~
C,-'~
H
\U 0
to
0 0
0 0
co
o O
C 0
--I C'.
Carlots
400 -
300
200
100
A. /t
PA / '?? e
t v /.',, I
iA. i -" ,:.: : ;\ ,' .
Other /;..l '' ^ / \
t;',,i l.. .: .
: ,., ".. ... \ I "
States,'. "' .' : ,- \ \/*
"": Imports
b j: .t\ p ..
,,........ ........ ..
'*'. I ', ... .'* .' ; F l r d . i/ ', -.'." .: :
-. : .. ": ," .'/.> .
:'- .s-. .', l" -J -".':o:-.,'.' ? :'.;
; ". '' .,'.'; ', : .'5 +>: ot ; 4
: .: !'"'% i: <" :.". i.".' ::." ,' '. ',. ,/ "?- ;
"; .': '" ;"':: ; ": : ;"," .'.: .. ;" I ,.:' '':.
1 :, "; : ""' .. '' '"" :J
1 15 29 12 26 10 24 7 21 4 18 3 17 31 14 2
Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
Weeks Ending
Fig. 8. Cucumbers 1Weekly Carlot ,Shipments from Florida, Competing States
and Imports during the Florida Season,
October 1, 1955 to April 1, 1956
8
April are the months of heaviest movement from District I. This also coincides
with the peak season of imports from Cuba, hence gives a biased picture. (Table
8 and Fig. 9). Shipments from District II are heavy from November through Jan-
uary and again in April. In District III shipments are heavy from October
through December and again in April and May, District IV movement is greatest
during May and June. Of the total Florida movement during the 1954-55 season
37 percent originated in District I, 26 percent in District II, 31 percent in
District III and 6 percent in District IV. The point of origin as reported at
the road guard stations does not reflect necessarily the districts in which the
cucumbers were grown. In many cases, cucumbers grown in one district are hauled
into another district for packing and loading for interstate shipments.
Table 8. -
Cucumbers Monthly Shipments in Carlot Equivalents by
Producing Districts in Florida, Season 19514-65/
Moth : Carlot Shipments by District
: ont : II : III : IV Total
September 3 3
October 22 37 327 30 416
November 219 324 518 46 1107
December 271 332 175 10 788
January 590 223 39 17 869
February 463 61 21 12 557
March 420 42 24 9 495
April 535 769 493 53 1850
May 206 122 734 173 1235
June 5 15 87 107
Total 2731 1910 2349 437 74272/
_3/ Includes imports from Cuba reported at road
originating in Florida, Florida origin for
of these imports is believed to be District
may appear in Districts II and III. A furtl
unavailable.
guard stations as
the major portion
I. Small amounts
ler breakdown is
2/ Add 87 cars of unknown origin to approximate totals given in
Table 6.
Source: U.S.D.A., A.M.S., Florida Crop and Livestock
Service, Florida Vegetable Crops, Volume XI,
Reporting
19.55
Percent Monthly Shipments Are
10.6 11.7 7.5 6.7
Percent
100
*-
1. '
~=; .
"
~.
;j*i
'C".
N:
XX~
.XN
'N,
,'N
a.;
of Yearly Shipments
-;--~--
: .\
..~
..
'
.i
.~..
? ~
I i
-~
;'
1.
iii
,-..
'~t
~:~
.:', r ~~
.. ...
i:- .
.:..
;~
' :
``
.
.
\~~
.
;~i.:
:ir
:: 1.:
' r
I"
: ~
. i.
:::.
.-
.1.
... ';'
:I:~ -;
;1.. :
:. ?.
1.~
,....
'
~:'
: (::
1~
L~z :
ii'.
i'..
""~.
: :
-1_~
it~U
Months
X.,'
N"
\ N
4,*
N \N-
N 'N
Fig. 9. Cucumbers Percent Monthly Shipments / are of Yearly Shipments
and Percent District Shipments are of Monthly and Total Shipments,
Florida, (South of the Suwannee River) Season 1954-55.
1/ Includes imports from Cuba reported at road guard stations as originating
in Florida. Florida origin for the major portion of taese imports is
believed to be District I. Small amounts may appear in Districts II and
III. A further breakdown is unavailable.
24.9 16. 6 1.5;
90 -
80
70 -
60 .
30 -
10 ...
Mar. Apr. May June
Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
100.0
N
V .
' N
,... Q
'' ''
Season
Total
District IV
6 percent
District III
31 percent
District II
26 percent
District I
37 percent
PRICES OF CUCUMBERS
Prices received by Florida growers for cucumbers depend upon (1) the size
of the Florida crop, (2) the season of the year when cucumbers are sold, (3) the
amount of foreign competition, (4) the amount of competition from other states,
(5) the volume of other competing vegetables available, and (6) the general
level of all prices in the United States. These are the factors generally be-
lieved to have a major effect on price. To explore their relative effect is
not within the scope of this report. Only general relationships can be shown.
Relationship of Production and Price of Cucumbers
In general there tends to be an inverse relationship between the production
of cucumbers in Florida and the average price received by farmers (Fig. 10).
If production increases, prices decline and if production decreases, prices in-
crease. After the 194hh-h season there was a definite upward trend in cucumber
production in Florida. From 1942-h3 until 1950-51 the price received showed a
general decline from its high Vforld W7ar II point. A decrease in production of
351,000 bushels from 1950-51 to 1951-52 resulted in an increase in average
prices received of $1,11 per bushel. Conversely, an increase of 363,000 bushels
from 1951-52 to 1952-53 resulted in a decrease in average prices for the season
of $0.60 per bushel. It is evident that factors other than production influence
the price of Florida cucumbers.
Variation in Monthly Prices of Cucumbers
Average cucumber prices by months for. three five-year periods are shown in
Fige ll From this it appears that average monthly prices received for cucumber
are normally highest in January, February and March, Prices tend to be lower in
the fall and in the spring months, when some supplies are available from sources
nearer the centers of consumption. In each of the periods shown January prices
Production
(1000 BU.
3000 -
2000 -
0
19h0-hl
Price
wr Bushel
-,- .00
- 5.00
h.oo
3.00
-2.00
100
I I I AI I $ I 0
1944-45 1949-50 1954-55
Seasons
Fig. 10 All Cucumbers Trend in Total Production and Price in
Florida, Seasons 19h0-1 to 195h-45
June
Months
Fig. 11. Cucumrbers Average Monthly Prices by Five-Year
Seasons 19h0-hl to 195h-55
Periods, Flor ida,
Index
O "-1950-51 to 1954-55
150.
I- ---
/ .
100
/ \
''....J" ****
50- .' v 1945-46 to 1949-50
Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June
ilonths
Fig. 12. Cucumbers Index of Seasonal Variation in Price
Received by Florida Growers, Five-Season Averages
1945-46 to 1995-55
are from $2.00 to $3.00 higher than October or November prices. Prices in
Iarch generally averaged $3.00 or more higher than June prices and $2,00 to
$3.00 higher than iay prices received for cucumbers.
Seasonal Variation in Cucumber Prices
The index of seasonal variation in cucumber prices for the two most recent
five-year periods indicate lowest prices in the fall months, increasing to a
peak in February and Uarch and declining again in the spring. Short supplies
during any month, usually are associated with high prices such as that indicated
for March of the 1950-51 to 1954-55 line (Fig. 12).
Relationship of Seasonal Production to Price of Florida Cucumbers
The inverse relationship between production and price of Florida cucumbers
is quite evident when the component parts of the crop year are shown separately
(Figs. 13 and 14) An increase in production of the fall, winter or spring crop
is accompanied by a decrease in the price received for that crop in most
instances. The same general upward trend in production and downward trend in
price is evident here as was indicated in the previous chart of total production
and average price#
Relationship of Prices for Florida Cucumbers to the
General Level of All Farm Prices and Prices Received
for Commercial Vegetables in the United Sbates
Prices received for cucumbers in Florida tend to fluctuate with, but more
erratically than, prices received by farmers in the United States for commercial
vegetables and all farm products. (Fig. 15). Florida cucumber prices rose more
rapidly than United States commercial vegetable prices and all farm prices dur-
ing l orld WVar II. Since that time they have also declined further and more
rapidly than either of the other indexes. Florida cucumber prices are, of
course, more closely allied to United States prices of commercial vegetablss
than to all farm prices, Cucumber prices in Florida have been below United
States prices since 1946.
A comparison of prices received for Florida cucumbers and prices paid by
farmers in the United States would short the same general trend, indicating that
costs of production have risen more than prices received for the product.
COST CF PRODUCING CUCUIBERS IN FLORIDA
The cost of producing cucumbers in selected areas in Florida is shown in
Table 9. Growing costs are highest in the Sumter, Pampano, Fort Myers and
Immokalee areas. Growers would agree that yield is the most important item in
determining the unit cost of producing a crop. When yields are high production
costs per-unit are low. Growing costs have fluctuated widely in the various
Production
(000 Bu.)
1000
800 -
600
0oo-
Fall
/-
Price
/ '
/ -
J^/
i/
Price
(Dollars)
6.25
5.00
3.75
2.50
1.25
0~~ I rr
1940-41
1944-45
1949-50
or
1954-55
Winter
600 -
5oo00
4oo
300
200
100
0
1940-41
Price '
' /
9.00
7.50
6.00
4.50
3.00
1.50
e 1949-50 19-5455
Season
Fig, 13 Cucumbers Relationship of Total Production and Average
Price Per Bushel for Fall and Winter Crops, Florida,
Seasons 1940-41 to 1954-55
'1'1
^\
Price
Spring
2200-
2000
1800
1600-
5,00
S,-Price
!
4.oo
1400- \
1200 \ /3.00
\1000 \
800 \ 2.00
600
200- 1.00
\ / 'Production 1*00
200
0-_ \ .____cio 0
1940-41 1944-45 1949-50 1954-55
Seasons
Fig. 14. Cucumbers Relationship of Total Production and Average
Price Per Bushel for the Spring Crop, Florida,
Seasons 1940-41 to 1954-55
o0 1 io 1 T' 1 1 I '
193 1940 19h5 1950
Years
Fig, 15. Indexes of Prices Received for Cucumbers by Florida Farmers
and Prices Received for Commercial Vegetables and
All Farm Products in the United States, 1935-1955
(1935-39 = 100)
Table 9.- Cucumbers Yields and Per Unit Costs and Returns in Selected
Areas in Floridaj by Seasons, 1950-51 to 1994-55.
Item : 1950-51 : 1951-52 1952-53 : 1953-54 : 199-55
Yield per acre in bushels
Amount per bushel
Growing cost
Harvesting cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net return
Yield per acre in bushels
Amount per bushel
Growing cost
Harvesting cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net return
Alachua Area
134.6 86,0
$0.67
.87i/
1.54
2.29
.75
220.0
$1.79
1.28
3.08
3.12
.04
80.85
.52_2/
1.37
1.94
.57
$1.42
1.19
2.61
3.33
.72
Fort Myers Area
255.2 197.0
$1.34
1.17
2.51
4.0o
1.50
$1.91
1.32
3.23
3.07
-.16
Yield per acre in bushels
Amount per bushel
Growing cost
Harvesting cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net return
Yield per acre in bushels
Amount per bushel
Growing cost
Harvesting cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net return
170.6
$1.76
1.48
3.24
2.34
-.90
168.0
$1.90
1.18
3.08
1.57
-1.51
Immokalee Area
214.0 192,0
$1.42
1.54
2.96
4.23
1.27
$1.84
1.52
3.36
2.96
-.40
186.0
$1.51
1.56
3.07
2.31
-.76
Manatee-Ruskin Area
227.3 309.0 227.5
01.17
1.32
2.49
2.69
.20
$1.02
1.24
2.26
2.63
.37
$1.33
1.30
2.63
1.63
-1.00
117.3
$1.00
1.18
2.18
1.45
-.73
203.3
$1.41
1.48
2.89
2.06
-.83
86.7
01.52
1.21
2.73
1.96
-.77
227.0
$1.41
1.36
2.77
2.78
.01
218.5
$1.36
1.46
2.82
2.58
-.24
263.2
$1.17
1.46
2.63
2.51
-.12
*,,*l
36
Table 9.- Cucumbers Yields and Per unit Costs and Returns in Selected
Areas in Florida, by Seasons, 1950-51 to 1954-55 (Concluded).
Item : 1950-51 : 1951-52 : 1952-53 : 1953-54 : 1954-55
Pompano Area
Yield per acre in bushels 129.8 141.6 167.0 240.2 133.0
Amount per bushel
Growing cost $2.50 $2.04 $1.84 $1.34 $2.26
Harvesting cost.? 1.06 .98 .95 .96 .93
Total crop cost 3.56 3.02 2.79 2.30 319
Crop sales 3.92 4.94 3.27 2.09 4.04
Net return .36 1.92 .48 -.21 .85
Sumter Area3/
Yield per acre in bushels 465.2 226.8 266.0 418.3 66.0
Amount per bushel
Growing cost $1.16 $2.40 $2.14 $1.27 07.63
Harvesting costI/ .51 .58 .62 .59 .56
Total crop cost 1.67 2.98 2.76 1.86 8.19
Crop sales 1.16 3.59 2.59 2.43 3.59
Net return -.51 .61 -.17 .57 -4.60
Wauchula Area
Yield per acre in bushels 326.4 290.8 207.0 213.8 367.0
Amount per bushel
Growing cost $1.51 O1l.l7 $1.L $1.47 .89
Harvesting cost/ .53 .61 .56 .52 .51
Total crop cost 2.04 2.08 2.00 1.99 1.40
Crop sales 1.57 2.60 2.09 1.53 2.07
Net return -.47 .52 .09 -.46 .67
1/ Costs of picking and hauling to market for sale in field boxes plus
selling charge only.
2/ Farm packed; no packinghouse charge included except few farmer operated
grading belts.
3/ Trough-grown crop only.
Source: Brooke, D. L., Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations, Costs and
Returns from Vegetable Crops in Florida, Volumes VI X.
areas. In from one to four of the past five seasons in all areas, prices re-
ceived for cucumbers have failed to equal the per-bushel cost of production,
harvesting and initial sale. Neither have areas shown the same profits or
losses in any one year. Weather conditions, quality of the crop, market
supplies and prices received vary with the particular season and area of
production*
COST OF HARVESTING, PACKING AND SELLING CUCUMBERS IN FLORIDA
The cost of harvesting, packing and selling cucumbers in selected areas for
the 1954-5 season is shown in Table 10. In the Sumter and Wauchula areas cucum
bers do not go to a packinghouse prior to sale but are sold in field crates at
the local auction market. Picking, hauling and selling costs averaged $0.56 and
$0O.1 per bushel in the Sumter and VTauchula areas, respectively. In the Pompano
area cucumbers are packed at the farm and sold on the local market at an average
cost of $0.93 per bushel for picking, hauling, container and selling.
Table 10, Cucumbers Harvesting, Packing and Selling Costs Per
Bushel in Selected Areas in Florida, Season, 1954-S5
: Ala- : Ft, :Immok-:tanatee: Pom- : 2/: Jau-_
Item : chua : Myers: alee :-Ruskin: pano :Suter : chula2
.Cost per bushel
Picking : $0.37: $0.31: $0.h4s: $0.7 : $0.41: $0.39 : $0.35
Hauling : .09: .10: .10: .11 : .09: .10 : .09
Packing : .31: *.2: ,o0: ,37 : 1/:
Containers : .34: .38: .37: .36 : .38: :
Commission : .10: .15: .15: .15 : .05: .07 : .06
Total harvesting,
packing and
selling cost : $1,21: $1.36: $1.46: $1.46 : $0.93: $0.6 : $0.51
l/ Farm packed; no packinghouse charge included.
2/ Harvested for sale in bulk field boxes at local markets.
In the other areas shown the total cost of picking, hauling, packing, con-
tainers and selling charge ranged from $1.21 per bushel in the Alachua area to
$1l46 per bushel in the Immokalee and Manatee-Ruskin areas.
DLBrcc 5/17/56
Exp. Sta., Ag. Ec. 500
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