Table 10. EGGPLANT: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward
 area, 5-season average 1977-81 and 1981-82

 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

Category Acre Acre Bushel

Yield (bushels) 742 727

Total receipts....................,..... $3274.28 $3765.86 $5.180
Operating costs
 Seed .......................*...** ..... 54.03 88.49
 Fertilizer.. ................. ........ 277.36 421.74
 Spray and dust......................... 250.75 281.24
 Cultural labor ...................... 535.26 622.37
 Machine hire......... ................. 44.70 37.13
 Gas, oil, grease......*................ 94.77 112.37
 Repair and maintenance................ 111.89 114.31
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 5 months)............. 73.72 161.30
 Miscellaneous expense. ...... ......... 196.80 291.97
Total operating costs.................... 1639.28 2130.92 2.931
Fixed costs
 Land rent................... .......*.. 79.36 190.00
 Depreciation........................... 59.31 56.29
 Licenses and insurance................. 97.88 117.55
 Interest on investment................. 10.05 7.97
Total fixed costs ............... 0...... 246.60 371.81 0.511
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Picking and packing.................... 626.17 723.37 0.995
 Containers....... .................. 487.26 458.01 0.630
 Hauling.................. .. ............ 127.17 127.23 0.175
 Selling..... ..... .............. ....... 177.56 181.75 0.250
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 1418.16 1490.36 2.050
Total costs................ ...*** ........ 3304.04 3993.09 5.493
Net return................................. -29.76 -227.23 -0.313