Retailers and three full-service wholesalers evaluated the color of
Florida celery and compared it with California celery color. Twelve
of the 22 respondents said Florida celery was greener, but nine said
there was no difference, and one felt California celery had more green
color.

Most of those interviewed had no strong objections to nor preferences
for the color of Florida celery, and stated that Florida celery color
was very good during the 1975-76 season.

A majority of executives interviewed, 13 of 22, stated that Florida
celery generally had more leaves than did celery from California.
However, nine felt there was no difference in the quantity of leaves,
and most had no strong feelings either way about the amount of leaves
on Florida celery.

Nearly all (17 of 22) of the respondents stated there was no difference
between the quality of leaves on Florida celery and those on celery
from California.

Half of the 22 executives responding rated California celery stalks
more compact than Florida celery. Eight felt there was no difference
and three said Florida celery was more compact.

Representatives of 12 firms said California celery had ribs that were
typically thicker, wider and flatter than those on Florida celery.
However, nine said there was no difference in celery ribs between the
two growing areas.

Retailers and wholesalers interviewed generally stated that there was
no difference between Florida and California celery pack quality with
regard to physical damage to stalks on arrival at destination.

Most responding said there was no difference between Florida and Cali-
fornia celery packs with respect to the correct count in the container
or to uniformity of stalk size within a given designation.

Several executives stated that Florida sizes often run smaller than
California sizes for the same count rate. For example, several said
that Florida 2 1/2's were often the same size as California 3's.

Retailers in Philadelphia and Detroit sell 82 percent of their celery
volume as stalks and 18 percent as hearts, but Boston retailers sell
58 percent as stalks and 42 percent as hearts.

Detroit retailers purchased 65 percent of their celery stalks in either
open or closed sleeves and only 35 percent naked. By contrast, retailers
in Boston bought 66 percent naked, while Philadelphia retailers purchased
79 percent naked.

Relatively few of those interviewed were familiar with shorter-cut sleeved
celery, and only one retailer regularly handled it.


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