fruit packinghouse. It does not include hauling in the grove to the roadside. It includes

hauling of packinghouse eliminations to the cannery, this being counted as a separate

haul. This is usually a somewhat less expensive haul than from grove to plant, according

to operators. One of the reasons for this is heavier loading of trucks. Most operators

state that hauling costs are about equal for oranges and grapefruit, but higher for tange-

rines because of the lighter loading required.


 Costs of Picking and Hauling, 1956-57

 The average costs per box for picking and hauling citrus fruit for the 1956-57

season from the grove to the processor or packinghouse are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

These costs are weighted averages; that is, the total money costs of all firms are divided

by the total number of boxes. Since two types of firms are represented, the costs for

each group are shown in a separate table. The distinction between citrus dealers and

packers in methods of operation is perhaps not as clear as it once was. Both groups

commonly pull oranges and grapefruit instead of clipping. Also, packinghouses often

pick some fruit,destined for canneries, by the bulk methods used by citrus dealers. A

few packers also use bulk handling methods for the fruit which is packed fresh.

 The average cost of bu and selling citrus fruits for 1956-57 averaged 2.39

cents per box for eight dealers, varying from .76 cents to 6.21 cents per box (Table 1).

The average volume was 1,233,460 boxes. The principal items of cost for providing this

service were buyers' salaries and commissions, management costs, auto and travel expense

and telephone and telegraph.

 Buying and selling unpacked fruit is not a normal function of fresh fruit packing-

houses and no cost is shown for them in Table 2. Some of the packers did have fruit