Table 22. TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County area, 5-
 season average 1977-81 and 1981-82

 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

Category Acre Acre 25 lb.

Yield (25 Ibs.) 692 1210

Total receipts........................... $3438.18 $6328.30 $5.230
Operating costs
 Seed ................................ 38.97 50.86
 Fertilizer..... ....................... 219.45 262.20
 Spray and dust......................... 396.05 488.86
 Cultural labor........................ 410.96 544.93
 Machine hire.................... ...... 24.97 30.56
 Gas, oil, grease....................... 70.62 105.63
 Repair and maintenance................. 108.47 127.91
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 5 months)............. 70.55 157.03
 Miscellaneous expense.................. 246.05 363.31
Total operating costs.................... 1586.09 2131.29 1.761
Fixed costs
 Land rent.............. ............ 71.86 152.33
 Depreciation.............. ............ 72.39 85.87
 Licenses and insurance................. 71.65 90.15
 Interest on investment................. 12.13 29.96
Total fixed costs........................ 228.03 358.31 0.296
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Picking........... ..................... 350.08 849.37 0.702
 Grading and packing.................... 646.74 1412.07 1.167
 Containers............................. 331.32 709.06 0.586
 Hauling............................... 125.65 243.67 0.201
 Selling............... ............... 131.77 285.36 0.236
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 1585.56 3499.53 2.892
Total costs.............................. 3399.68 5989.13 4.950
Net return............................... 638.50 339.17 0.280