|
THE PA SURVEY IN THE TAPA MA=ET AIIE
Conducted by the Ferida Agricultural UEperiment Station and the Florida
Agricultural Extension Service, April and May 1946
In the farm survey of the Tampa market area, data were obtained on 401 farms
in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties by means of personal visits to the farms and
by use of a prepared schedule. The objectives of this survey of the farms in the
area were (1) to obtain information on the present market practices of growers of
truck crop served by the Tampa market, the Palmetto market, and the Plant City
market, (2) to get the attitudes of growers with respect to the existing market
facilities, marketing methods and policies of each of the above markets, and (3)
to get the attitude of growers concerning the proposed new market in Tampa.
To get a good geographical distribution of the farmers interviewed, the pro-
cedure was to drive all roads in each county, using a sectionalised county road map
and talk to each farmer found at home. Repeat trips were made in only a few popu-
lous cne nitties where a large number of people were away from home on the first
call. In Manatee County some growers *ho live off the farms had to be located in
town.
The size distribution of the sample of farms taken in Manatee County was
checked against a size distribution of all farms in the County. The sample has a
good distribution except in the very smallest Sizes where the sample was lighter
than the total of all farms.
While this is not a scientific method of sampling, the sample is, however,
believed to be representative of the farms in the entire market area, and farms
of all sizes were included.
The farms covered in the survey were distributed by counties as follows:
No. Farms Percent of
No. Farms in County Farms in
Count in Samle 1293 Camus Sa&mle
Eillsborough 284 3630 7.8
Manatee 117 676 17
Total 401 4306 9.3
-2-
No attempt has been made to expand the sample to the whole universe and all
subsequent tables show the reaction of only the farmers interviewed.
Calls were made on farmers who were primarily truck crop producers, but if
they also sold some citrus, poultry, hogs or cattle, the disposition of these
products was obtained also.
Since Hillsborough and Manatee Counties produce the bulk of the total volume
of truck crops in the Tampa market area, no growers were contacted outside these
two counties.
Disposition of Truck Crops Grown
Table 1 shows the crops grown in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, and the
disposition of each, by markets. Very little produce was reported sold direct to
chain store warehouses in Tampa, or to truckers coming to the farm. I is believed,
however, that sales to trucks at the farm are somewhat understated, especially for
some commodities. Sales to "Other" outlets include produce sold to local stores,
shipped by express or on consignment by the grower, as well as that handled by co-
operatives and independent shippers. This is an important outlet for some produce
and is used by the larger growers extensively.
The Plant City Farmers' Market handled more than 50 percent of the lima
beans, green corn, okra, field peas, peppers, squash and strawberries reported in
both counties, and was an important market for other crops, as snap beans, cucumbers
and Irish potatoes.
The Palmetto State Farmers' Market handled about 37 percent of all tomatoes
grown in both counties and also and one-fourth of the escarole. It is a very im-
portant market for tomatoes grown in Manatee County.
If the counties be considered separately, both the Plant City Market and the
Palmetto Farmers' Market do a still larger proportion of the selling of produce
within their respective counties.
The Tampa Wholesale Produce Market handles a greater variety of produce in
-3-
Table 1. Disposition of Produce Grown by 401 Truck Farmers in
Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, 1945-46
: :Percent of Commodity Sold at--
Crop :Acres : Farm : Chain : :Plant City:Palmetto: Tampa
Beans, Lima
Beans, Snap
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Corn, Green
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Endive
Escarole
Lettuce
Okra
Onions
Parsnips
Peanuts
Peas, English
Peas, Field
Peppers, Green
Potatoes, Irish :
Potatoes, Sweet :
Pumpkins
Radish
Rutabaga
Spinach
Squash
Strawberries
Strawberry Plants:
Sugar Cane
Tomatoes
Turnips & Mustard:
Watermelons
Citrus, Not
Specified
Grapefruit
Oranges
Grapes
Beef Cattle
Chickens
Eggs
Hogs
Turkeys
*Less than .05 percent.
: 1'4-4 : to : Store :Other: Fr
174.5
325.5
22.2
2.7
385.6
7.2
15.2
207.8
52.5
54.2
736.4
398.3
463.5
1.0
101.5
165.3
130.3
29.0
1.0
3.0
57.2
1011.9
909.0
166.1
35.5
2.5
2.8
2.8
1.5
529.4
332.0
.5
1.5
1843.7
85.2
356.2
Boxes
61,600
6,363
12,196
Lbs.
3,000
=uqber
204
950
53,388
164
1,450
I
:Truckers Warehouse:
3.3:
S2.2 : .1 : 8.4:
11.7 : 4.4:
-- : 53.6:
3.4 : 65.4:
3.4 :
S : 19.8:
.5 8.7 : 59.8:
S : 75.2:
.2 .5:
.2 :6.3:
S : : 72.0:
S7.9 : .5 : 62.0:
: : : :
: 5.9 : 68.5:
2.5 : 1.4 : 37.6:
.8 : .3 : 2.4:
.4 3.3:
:20.0:
S- 33.3:
: :35.4:
2.2:
: : : 2.2:
: .5 .4 16.1:
6.1:
: : 29.6:
S : 53.1:
: :33.3:
.9 : 3.2 : 10.6:
S3.5 : 28.5:
:100.0:
:00.0:
1.0 : 1.1 : 39.3:
S : 15.5:
: 1.4 : 62.8:
S4.9 89.3:
S : 95.6:
2.5 : : 81.1:
25.0 25.0:
: : :100.0:
: : :100.0:
:100.0:
: :100.0:
: : :100.0:
: : :100.0:
S ---------0:
farmers' :Farmers' Produce
market : Market :Market
63.2 : .1 : 33.4
37.2 1.9 : 50.2
: 83.9
: 46.4
.5 : 5.6 : 25.1
13.8 : : 82.8
6.6 : 73.6
31.0
: : 31.0
: : 24.8
: : 99.3
99.3
62.2 .7 : 30.6
21.6 : .4 : 6.0
15.2 : 2.7 : 11.7
: 100.0
: 24.6 : 1.0
.4 1.2 : 56.9
50.3 : 46.2
9.6 : 86.7
: 80.0
: 66.7
3.9 :60.7
76.4 : .8 20.6
70.8 : 2.5 9.7
45.6 48.3
19.7 : : 50.7
: : 100.0
: : 46.9
: : 100.0
: 66.7
57.2 : 3.3 :24.8
66.2 : : 1.8
: : -
17.8 : 36.8 : 4.0
4.0 : : 80.5
26.9 : : 8.9
5.8 -
4.4 : -
16.1 : .3
: 50.0
: : -
: : -
: : -
: : -
-4-
important volumes than any other single market in the area. Many important crops
in the area like tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, eggplant, and cucumbers, were not
sold as extensively on the Tampa Market as on the Plant City and Palmetto Markets;
but the Tampa Market handled 36 different commodities against 24 for Plant City
which had the next greatest variety. Many of these commodities are those which
are reported to be hard to sell, if salable, on the other markets and include such
crops as beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, onions, pars-
nips, peanuts, English peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, radish, rutabaga, spinach,
turnips, mustard, and grapes.
Of the produce sold on the Tampa Produce Market, growers were asked the pro-
portion of sales to retailers, to wholesalers and jobbers, and to long-distance
truckers. However, answers to this question were not considered very satisfactory,
and tended to give about an even split between the three groups when averaged. Only
a few growers who used the market regularly enough to become acquainted with the
buyers seemed to have any clear idea as to the proportion of their sales to different
classes of buyers.
Reasons for Using Various Market Outlets
Growers sometimes use two or more markets for the same commodity, and very
frequently use a certain market for one commodity and a different market for another
commodity. Each person interviewed was asked to give his reasons for using the
market he patronized for each commodity he sold. These reasons are shown in Table
2. Replies from both Hillsborough and Manatee Counties are combined in this table,
but it represents for each market, only the reasons for those using the market.
For some commodities, for example tomatoes, two markets were frequently used
by the same grower with different reasons for each. Green tomatoes might be sold
in Palmetto for certain reasons, and pinks sold in Tampa for other reasons.
Of the growers using the Tampa Produce Market, 62 percent said the reason was
that there were buyers for the produce they were offering; 52 percent said it was a
year-round market; and 34 percent said prices were somewhat higher. Distance seems
Table 2. Reasons Given by 284 Truck Crop Growers in Hillsborough County,
and 117 Growers in Manatee County for using Specified Markets for Certain rroaucts
: Plant City Farmers' Market : Palmetto Farmers' Market : Tamrpa Produce Market
: ^ ^ : : : la : tf K ^SK
: ~ ~ % : o$ c .g .^ o :< D^ P ?
0 >.c 1:TH 40 :0 0 0.-,
Q E-4 0 4) ) 4-- 0)F+4 41 H F 4.
0: : : o o a S : : : : : o a : : o: o 0o *1 *:
4-1 ; F ae $ W torfcB i-i tM $ 4 W a9 P4 4-' ap k 4 go (1
o L) : 5:5: 7 0 E-1 W 8 : 4 : a .5:6 C ; o :
So : : : : 4 0)r1 4 : 1 t. 4
V0 41 O0 D 10 0 ) "-1 ;3 8 4D -v
P% UO ap). : 8 : Fq x U 0 Cb 0 t A -% :0: V. A Fq Fq q 0
31A:FI oaCo: a: O p o: oM: op
B TK 1; : A17 ;: i'0. n ; A : A ; a ; 9 ; r : A : 2 : : 20: 7 : 1 1 : : 2 : : 2
Beans, Snap
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Escarole
t Endive
SLettuce
Okra
Onions
Parsnips
Peas, English
Peas, Field
Peppers
Potatoes, Irish
Potatoes, Sweet
Pumkin
Rutabaga
Squash
Strawberries
Spinach
Tomatoes
Turnips & Mustard
Watermelons
Total
Percent
67: 3 56 37
1:- 1: 1
2: 2:
1: 1 1
1: 1: -
S96: 2 85 58
: 49: 1 : 41 : 26
S39: 2: 33:19
: -- a -
50: 5 :42 :33
2: -: 2:
144:10 :138 :84
:178:10 :141 : 91
S32: 1 25:20
3: 3: 2
: 116: 6 : 99 : 62
82: 2: 73 : 47
140: 9 :113 77
: 2: -: 2: 2
20: :15: 9
1080:56 :920 601
34 6 4 3
37 8 3 : 4
28' 1- 1 4
20: 4 1 :
2 - :-
69 9 3 9
91 :12 4: 8
2 -1
- : : -
S- : -
43 7 3 : 4
58 1 : 4
530 :81 :36 :55
a : --
: : : : -
: : : : --
: : -i:-:-
,: 8:1:-:
:530 :81 :36 55
6 -
4 : : -
4 :1: -
: 3 : 7: -
S2 -
: : -: -- :
3 1 1
: : 81: 12
:8 : 4: -
:12 : 9: -
:1 : : -
:12 : 98: 2
1: -: -:
:92 :123: 19 :
* S S
2
4:
16
8
75
113
" -
--
6 -
: -44: -7
: 52 -11
:- :1
: :3
44 : 7
: 52 :11
:59:
:18:
3:
37:
3:
12:
19:
4:
:30:
57:
S18:
32:
1:
1:
31:
51:
14:
1:
: 18:
59:
43:
32:
2:
3:
2:
4:
59:
8:
1:
34:
44:
: 16:
736
11
1
1:
2
1
3
1
5-
3
9
6
2:
4:
5:
2
6
2
4
1 :
2
2
5:
2
2
5:
99 ;
1 : 33 : 35 : 2 :1 : 2
1 :10 13 -: :
1 21 : 35 : -
1 1 1 :-
1 8 8 4 :-
- 10 :19: :
4- : 1 -
2 : 14 : 27 : 1 : 1 : 4
1 : 28 : 25 : 9 : 1 : 3
2 : 10 9 :
- 22 :18: -:1 :2
- : : : -
21 : 26 :12 : 1
1 35 28 2: : 6
1 8: 8 : 2
S : 1 :-:- :
S: 11 8 : :- :2
1 :33 : 30 : 4 : 1 : 9
30 : 28 : 2: : 4
1 17 : 17 : : 4
: 2 2 :
S1 2 -
S3: 2 -
3: 2
1: 4 : 39 : 2 :1 : 4
1 3 3 -: : 1
- 14 13 3 :- : 3
2 1 : 38 : 4 : : 2
1: 9 : 4: : : 2
3 382 456 :48 6 55
: 100:52:85.2:55.6:49.1:7.5:3.3:5.1:8.5:100:15.4:91.9:46.3:42.3:8.9:100:13.5:3.1:51.9:62.0:6.5: .8 :7.5:3x
* : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
* -
--ij
-
a__ A. -
-6-
not to have been a factor influencing use of this market. The reasons just listed
apply to all commodities; for each commodity the reasons may be different in some
respect. For example, Irish potatoes, only one grower out of 32 said higher prices
were prevalent on the Tampa Market.
Reasons for using the Palmetto State Farmers' Market were: convenience, re-
ported by 92 percent of the growers using the market; distance, which is related to
convenience, 46 percent; and buyers for the commodity (principally tomatoes), 42
percent.
Of the growers using the Plant City Market, 85 percent gave convenience as a
reason; 56 percent, distance; 49 percent, buyers for the.commodity offered. These
reasons apply to all commodities. One reason given by 7.5 percent of all growers
using the Plant City Market came principally from the larger growers: "Buyers take
the whole load". Selling on the Tampa Market may require 1-package sales to a
customer, to which the larger growers object.
Number of Market Trips Per Season, and Time Required Per Trip
The Plant City Market is the most frequently used and the most extensively
used market (Table 3). It is used by Hillsborough County growers much more than by
growers in Manatee County. Seventy-five percent of the growers interviewed in
Hillsborough County used the Plant City Market while only 14 percent of the Manatee
County growers used it. On the other hand, 68 percent of the Manatee County growers
used the Palmetto State Farmers' Market, while only one percent of the Hillsborough
farmers used it.
The Tampa Produce Market is used alike by growers in both counties. Approxi-.
mately 48 percent of the growers surveyed in each county were using the Tampa market.
Of those using this market, Hillsborough growers estimated they made 45 trips per
season and Manatee growers 40. The data for "Other" market outlets are incomplete
as to number of farmers using and number of trips per season, and for the time
Table 3. Average Number of Market Trips Per Season and Use of Various Markets
by 401 Truck Crop Growers in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida
: Hillsborough County Manatee County Total
No. of Growers. Reporting: 284 : 117 401
:Number : Average :Percent of :Number : Average :Percent of :Number : Average :Percent of
:Farmers:, Number : Farmers :Farmers: Number : Farmers :Farmers: Number : Farmers
Markets
: Using :Trips Per: Using : Using :Trips Per: Using : Using :Trips Per: Using
: Market: Season :Market : Market: Season : Market : Market: Season Market
Plant City Farmers : 213 : 81 : 75.0 : 17 : 21 : 14.5 : 230 : 77 : 57.4
Palmetto Farmers 3 14 : 1.1 79 32 : 67.5 82 32 : 20.4
Tampa Produce :135 : 45 : 47.5 : 57 : 40 : 48.7 :192 : 44 47.9
Tampa Chain Warehouse : 3 : 18 : 1.1 : : 3 : 18 : .7
Other (incomplete) : 14: 30 : 4.9 4 115 3.4 : 18 49 : 4.5
: I : : : I
-8-
required per trip.
The average time required to make a trip to market, sell produce, and return
to the farm is shown in Table 4. This is, of course, related to distance from farm
as to the Plant City and Palmetto Markets. On the Tampa Produce Market, Hillsborough
County growers estimated that it required 6.3 hours, on the average, and Manatee
County growers estimated 8.8 hours.
There are two distinct practices among farmers with respect to selling pro-
duce on the Tampa market. Some growers leave their farms late in the afternoon and
drive to the market to get a good display space, then spend the night on the market
to be-there when selling begins at 5:00 A. M. The other growers leave home about
3:00 A. M. and take a chance on getting a display space on the platform. This group
obviously requires less time to make a trip than those who stay on the market all
night. It is believed that a larger percentage of growers from Manatee County spend
the nfght on the market than from Hillsborough County, though these two practices
were not kept separate.
Growers consistently reported that the congestion of vehicles in the market
yard frequently added to the time required. If a grower sold out early he might
have to wait some time before being able to locate the owner of another truck which
was blocking his exit.
Reasons Given for Not Using Various Markets
Each farmer was asked if he had ever sold on each of the markets (Table 5).
Those who had never used one of the markets in the area were asked why. Their
reasons are given in Table 6. Growers who had ceased to use a market which they
had once used were asked to give the reasons. Their replies are given in Table 7.
-9-
Table 4. Average Time Required for a Trip to Specified Markets as Estimated by
Truck Crop Growers in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties Who Use the Markets
Hillsborough County Manatee County
Number of Farms Surveyed 284 117
: : Average Time : Average Time
Markets : Number Required Number : Required
: Estimates : Per Trip : Estimates : Per Trip
: : (Hours) : (Hours)
Plant City Farmers' Market : 218 : 2.9 : 16 : 4.6
Palmetto State Farmers'
Market: 3 : 4.2 : 81 : 2.4
Tampa Wholesale Produce
Market: 150 : 6.3 60 8.8
Tampa Chain Warehouse 2 : 2.5 1 4.0
Other Outlets (Incomplete) : 15 : 4.7 3 2.3
Table 5. Number of Growers in Hillsborough and Manatee Who Have at Some Time
Used Specified Markets
S Hillsborough Manatee Total
: County Growers :County Growers
Number of Farms Surveyed 284 117 :401
: : HNver: : Have :: : Have :
Have :ave ve Have
Markets Used :Never : No : Used :Never : No: Used :Never : No
:Market: Used :Reply:Market: Used :Reply:Market: Used :Reply
::Market: : :Market:: :Market:
Plant City Farmers' : : : : : : :
Market : 246 :29 :9 :29 :78 : 10 275 :107 : 19
Palmetto Farmers' : : : :
Market : 11 : 262 : 11 : 101 :13 3 : 112 :275 : 14
Tampa Produce Market :226 : 47 :11 : 89 : 26 : 2 :315 : 73 :13
Tampa Chain Warehouse 26 :233 :25 9 68 : 40 35 : 301 : 65
___________5__________________---------
Table 6. Reasons for Not Using Specified Markets Given by Truck Crop Growers
in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida, 1946
Plant City : Palmetto State : Tampa Wholesale : Tampa Chain Store
Sf Farmers' Market :Farmers' Market : Produce Market : Warehouse
Reasons for Not Using Market
Hillsborough Manatee:Hillsborough Manatee:Hillsborough Manatee Hillsborough: Manatee
County :County: County :County : County :County : County :County
Distance 5 : 25 69 3 : 2 : -
Do Not Need for My Crops 17 2 : 2 6 : 9 2 : 4
Not Suitable for My Crops
(Specialty Market) 1 2 1 : 2 -
Not Familiar With Market : 6 2 : 1 3 : 2
Prefer Another Outlet (Market) 1 : 5 :3 : 9 9 : 2
Too Much Time Required : 2 : : 6 : 2 : -
Inconvenient : : : : 3 4 -
Selling Hours Unsatisfactory : 1 : 4 : 1 : -
Price Lower 1 : : 1 : 1 : : : 1
Small Lot Selling : : 3 : 1 : -
Market Space Too Small : : : 1 : -
Not Enough Buyers : : 1 : : -
Buyers Dishonest : : : 1 1 3 : 1 : -
Other Reasons : : 2 : : 3 :1 : : 2 : 3
Total 9 53 77 14 36 28 18 12
To* : *
-11-
Changes Suggested in the Various Markets by Truck Crop Growers in
Hillsborough and Manatee Counties
Growers were asked whether any of the markets could be changed to serve their
needs more adequately. Answers to this question are given in Table 8.
The changes suggested by growers from each county are shown in Table 9. It
should be remembered that these are growers' suggestions and due to the variety of
interests, are often conflicting, and some may even be impossible or undesirable.
Also many growers made no suggestion for any changes.
On the Plant City Market 34 Hillsborough County growers suggested that in-
spection be provided and 3 suggested elimination of inspection. The survey was be-
gun in Hillsborough County soon after inspection was begun on the Plant City Market
and inspection was voted out before completion of the survey. Twenty-eight Hills-
borough County growers suggested more buyers for the Plant City Market; 23 said
reduce time required to sell; 20 said auction selling was needed; 18 wanted a year-
round market.
Only 7 growers from Manatee County had any suggestions as to the Plant City
Market and none of the growers in Hillsborough County suggested any changes in the
Palmetto Market.
On the Palmetto Market 26 growers from Manatee County suggested that more
buyers were needed to make a better market, and 15 suggested selling more or addi-
tional farm products. Eight growers suggested inspection be provided.
The Tampa Produce Market was most criticized for lack of space by the growers
from both Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. Even farmers who were not now using
this market but who had used it at some time criticized the space limitation. Two
hundred and thirty-six growers from Hillsborough and 114 from Manatee County com-
plained of lack of space. Many growers in both counties suggested changing the
selling hours, with more suggesting twenty-four-hour selling than any other change.
Seven growers wanted a late afternoon market provided to enable a grower to sell
Table 7. Reasons
for Ceasing to Use Specified Markets as Given by Truck Crop Growers
in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida, 1946
S Plant City : Palmetto State : Tampa Wholesale : Tampa Chain Store
Reasons for Ceasing Farmers' Market : Farmers' Market : Produce Market : Warehouse
to Use Market :Hillsborough:Manatee:Hillsborough:Manatee:Hillsborough:Manatee:Hillsborough:Manatee
County :County: County : County : County :County: County :County
Distance : 4 1 : 3 1
Do Not Need for My Crops 21 2 -
Not Suitable for M:r Crops :
(Specialty Market) : 2 : 1 -
Prefer Another Outlet (Market) : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 2 1 : -
Too Much Time Required 3 : : : 10 : 4 -
Inconvenient : : : 1 2 :3 -
Selling Hours Unsatisfactory 9 -
Price Lower 1 --- 3
Small Lot Selling : : : 3 : -
Market Space Too Snall : 6 -
Not Enough Buyers : : 3 : :- -
Dishonest Buyers : : : 2 -
Buyers Monopolize liarket 1 : : : -
Other Reasons : 2 : : : 3 : -
Total 9 6 5 3 62 12 7 1
Table 8. Could Any of These Markets Be Changed to Serve You Adequately?
County
Hill sborough
Manatee
Total
:Number of : Plant City : Palmetto State : Tampa-Wholesale
: Growers : Farmers' Market : Farmers' Market : Produce Market
:Interviewed: Yes : No : Total : Yes : No : Total : Yes : No : Total
: 284 :118 : 32: 150: 1: 7 : 8 :110 :37: 147
: 117 : 5 :13: 18 : 44 : 38: 82 55 : 16: 71
401 123 45 168 : 45 45: 90 :165 53 218
.. .
.* .., ,,
Table 9. Changes Suggested in Various Markets by 401 Truck Crop Growers
in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida,
194A6
: Plant City : Palmetto State : Tampa Wholesale
Changes Suggested : Farmers' Market : Farmers' Market : Produce Market
:HillsboroughtManatee:Hillsborough: Manatee: Hil sborough:Manatee
SCounty :County : County : County : County : County
More Selling Lines or Space for Farmers
Have a 24-hour Market
Change Selling Hours to Afternoon Market
Change Selling Hours (Two Periods Per Day)
Change Selling Hours
Provide Inspection and Grading
Eliminate Inspection
Need More Buyers
Reduce Selling Time
Provide a Year-Round Market
Provide Auction Selling
Eliminate Auction
Reftce Selling Charge
Eliminate Selling Charge
Buyers Control (Monopolize) Market
Need More Truckers
Sell More (Additional) Commodities
Provide Market Information
Need New Management
Truckers Should buy Own Loads
Allow No Set-Off or Outside Selling
Collect Selling Charge from Set-Offs
Need Higher Prices
Need Lower Prices
Pay According to Inspection (Grade)
Cut Out Middleman
Need Honest Commission Men
Buy in Larger Quentities
Provide Field Inspection
Let Fast Moving Iroduce Go On Through Market
Provide Shade for Trucks
Need Scales to Weigh Produce
Need Packing Machinery
Cold Storage Facilities Needed
Eliminate Stall en
Other Reasons
Total
* :
2 :
2
- :
- :
3
- :
* :
3__:_
7 :
5"
- S
- S
- S
233
104
56
6
:
-:
-:
9
3
4
2
1
8
11
3
:
--:
-:
--:
--:
2
1
:
-:
-:
-:
1
3
22
236
66
2
15
114
- --
---- --~ ---- -~-- -- -- -L ----
-14-
the produce he had gathered that day and return home to rest for the night. Eleven
growers wanted market information made available on sales prices.
Months of Year a Market is Needed
Produce is available for sale in volume from November through June, and some
growers have certain crops for sale in much smaller quantities from July through
October (Table 10).
Table 10. Months of the Year Produce is Available for Sale by Truck
Growers in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, Florida.
Month
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
Number of growers
interviewed
Hillsborough
County
51
36
38
49
68
98
155
158
173
234
240
192
Manatee
County
5
4
4
13
54
72
76
69
59
107
103
38
Total
56
40
42
62
122
170
231
227
232
341
343
230
284 117 401
Need for Additional Facilities by Growers
Each grower was asked if he needed a stall on a market.
apply entirely to the Tampa Market, were as follows:
Number Stall Stall Not No
of Needed Needed Reply
County Growers (Percent) (Percent) (Percent,
Hillsborough 284 16.5 79.2 4.3
Manatee 117 20.5 76.1 3.4
Total 401 17.7 79.1 3.2
Most growers who needed a stall stated that they needed
except in Manatee County where there was less need from July thl
The replies, which
Total
) (Percent)
100.0
100.0
100.0
it the year round
rough October.
i I I I
Table 11. Months of
Month
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
Number of growers
interviewed
Hillsborough
County.
16
18
18
21
24
26
23
22
22
28
31
23
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the Year a Stall is Needed
Number of Growers
Manatee
County
3
3
3
4
16
19
19
17
15
17
17
8
284 117 401
Is a New Market Needed at Tampa?
The final question asked each grower contacted was whether he thought a new
produce market is needed at Tampa or whether the present one is adequate for his
needs. Answers to this question are shown in the table below.
Hillsborough Manatee
County County Total
Number of Growers Interviewed 284 117 401
(Percent) (Percent) (Percent)
New Market is Needed 27.1 38.5 30.4
New Market is Not Needed 59.8 39.3 53.8
Undecided 8.5 20.5 12.0
No Answer 4.6 1.7 3.8
100.0 100.0 100.0
Approximately 60 percent of the growers in Hillsborough County thought a new
market was not needed. Opinion was about equally divided in Manatee of those who
had decided, but some 20 percent would not say one way or the other. A larger
percent of the Manatee County farmers are currently using the Tampa Market than
of the Hillsborough County farmers. Many of the growers who thought a new market
was not needed though changes should be made on the Tampa Produce Market to justify
Total
19
21
21
25
40
45
42
39
37
45
48
31
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this -opinion. Many of this group were dissatisfied with the Tampa Market at present,
but were afraid of the result if the Tampa trade were spit between two markets.
Those who thought a new market is needed were asked to give the reason why.
Many of these reasons are similar to changes suggested for the Tampa Market, but
this group felt that desirable changes could not be had on the Tampa Produce Market.
Reasons given for needing a new market are shown in Table 12.
Table 12. Reasons Why a New Produce Market is Needed at Tampa
as Given by Truck Crop Growers in Hillsborough and
Manatee Counties, Florida
Reason :Hillsborough: Manatee : Total
: County : County
Space Inadequate 27 : 17 : 44
Need Market for Farmers 26 3 : 29
Need Competition for Old Market : 10 : 11 : 21
Need a Cooperative 5 3 : 8
Need a 24-Hour Market 8 6 14
Better Location Needed 7 7
To Eliminate Undesirable Practices
of Middlemen 7 7
Need Sales Agency to Handle Produce : 3 :
Need Improved Facilities 2 2
Need Cold Storage Facilities 1 1
Need Poultry Processing Plant 1 1
Need Better Prices : 1 : : 1
Number of Growers Giving Reasons 77 45 122
Summary
To get the opinions of those who use the produce markets, 401 truck crop pro-
ducers in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties were interviewed in April and May 1946.
From the information given by them the following summary may be given. It should
be emphasized that this summary, as well as the whole report, represents only the
reaction of the growers surveyed as to the existing conditions and is not to be
considered as an argument for or against a new market.
1. The Plant City Market is a very important outlet for many kinds of pro-
duce, especially for growers in Hillsborough County (Table 1). The Palmetto State
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Farmers' Market is important for tomatoes and escarole and is used principally by
growers in Manatee County. The Tampa Produce Market handles the largest variety of
produce, and is very important for leafy vegetables and bunch crops, pink tomatoes,
and many crops which cannot be sold well onthe other markets. It draws produce
from both Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. Very small amounts of produce are
sold direct to the Chain Store Warehouses, or at the farm to truckers although
this latter outlet is believed to be understated. Considerable quantities of vari-
ous crops are sold through outlets other than those enumerated above. These include
shipments by the growers, sales through cooperatives or independent shippers and
local or store sales.
2. Reasons given for using various markets (Table 2):
Plant City Farmers' Market
A. Convenience, 85 percent of those using
B. Distance, 56 percent of those using
C. Buyers for commodity offered, 49 percent of those using
D. Buyers take whole load, 7.5 percent (given by large growers)
Palmetto State Farmers' Market
A. Convenience, 92 percent of those using
B. Distance, 46 percent of those using
C. Buyers for commodity offered,- 42 percent of those using
Tampa Wholesale Produce Market
A. Buyers for produce offered, 62 percent of those using
B. Year-round market, 52 percent of those using
C. Prices somewhat higher, 34 percent of those using
Distance seems not to have been a factor influencing use of
this market.
Reasons for using a particular market vary with the product to be
sold (Table 2).
3. A farmer who grows a variety of vegetable crops must spend a great deal
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of time in going to market. The number of trips made to each market is shown in
Table 3, and the average time required per trip in Table 4.
4. Each grower who was not using one of the markets in the area was asked
to give his reasons why. These reasons are shown in Table 6. If the grower had
ceased to use a certain market the reasons were obtained and are shown in Table 7.
5. Many changes were suggested on the various markets. Some of these sug-
gested changes were conflicting, and some were in the nature of a complaint of some
condition for which there may be no remedy by the market as, for example,
"Need higher prices'" (Table 9).
The Tampa Produce Market was most criticized for lack of space by the
growers of both Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. A number of growers using also
wanted the selling hours changed; many wanted a 24-hour market (Table 9).
6. Some produce is available for sale the year round and in heavy volume
January to June (Table 10).
7. Only 16.5 percent of the growers in Hillsborough County and 20.5 per-
cent of those in Manatee County reported that they needed a stall. Most growers
who needed a stall stated that they needed it the year round except in Manatee
County where there was less need from July through October (Table 11).
8. Approximately 60 percent of the growers in Hillsborough County thought
a new market was not needed at Tampa. Opinion was about equally divided in Manatee
County 38.5 percent said yes, 39.3 percent said no but 20.5 percent were unde-
cided as to the need for a new market.
Many of the growers who thought a new market was not needed, thought
changes should be made on the Tampa Produce Market to justify this opinion.
Those who thought a new market is needed at Tampa felt that desirable
changes could not be had on the present Tampa Market. Their reasons for the need
of a new market are given in Table 12.
AHS:LMcA Exp. Sta.
6/21/46 50 copies.
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