2




avocados will be addressed in later reports. Specifically, attention is

directed towards the effects of import competition on two tomatoes and

peppers, and on the state's beef cattle industry. Then, emphasis will

shift to the importance of the export market for Florida agricultural

commodities. In both cases major impediments were encountered due to

lack of complete and detailed data on Florida's agricultural trade. For

this reason the current report will be used for presenting preliminary

results with the intention of expanding and refining the Market Center's

international agricultural trade program.

 In forthcoming reports major competitors will be identified and the

 degree and nature of competition quantified as far as possible for each

 commodity. Efforts will be directed toward measuring the impact of this

 competition on each major commodity sector and on the regions of the

 state affected by the competition. Concomitantly, the potential for

 expanded sales of Florida products will be investigated. Attention will

 be focused on determining the extent of foreign demands and will in-

 dicate the magnitude and composition of expected increases in export

 shipments. Finally, the consequences of both expanded demands and

 changes in import competition for Florida products and the abilities of

 the producers to adjust to them will be analyzed.

 Import Competition


 Fresh Vegetables

 Tomatoes and green peppers are important Florida vegetable crops

 which face strong import competition during the October to June crop