purchases might be profitable for the Florida celery industry. More

details on interview responses on quality factors will be presented

in later sections of the report.


Supplier Type


 All larger retailers bought three-fourths or more of their celery

needs directly from shippers in growing areas. Only one wholesaler of

the 14 interviewed did not buy from shippers. Thus, some 83 percent

of retailers' celery volume and 93 percent of total celery volume in

all three market areas togetherwere purchased directly (Table 6).


Table 6.--Total weekly volume of
 directly from shippers


celery used, and volume purchased
by study firms


 Retailers Wholesalers Total
Market Area
 Total Used Direct Total Used Direct Total Used Direct

 Crates Percent Crates Percent Crates Percent

Philadelphia 5,100 90 14,000 100 19,100 97

Boston 6,900 65 13,500 96 20,400 86

Detroit 7,300 94 6,600 100 13,900 97

 Total 19,300 85 34,100 99 53,400 93



 The one wholesaler who did not purchase celery directly from ship-

pers bought his supplies from one of the larger wholesalers in his mar-

ket area. Retailers who used more than one truckload of celery weekly

bought most of their needs from shippers. These retailers also had

sufficient storage space to keep their fresh produce needs on hand in

their own facilities.