through 1961-62, prices in January, February and March were 43 to 49 percent
above and prices in June 16 percent below the annual average price.22

 From year to year, there tends to be an inverse relation between
production of sweet corn in Florida and prices received by farmers. If
production increases, prices decline and if production decreases, prices
increase. The price of $3.88 per hundredweight received for the 1954-55 crop
is the lowest season average price to date.23 Season average prices have
tended slightly upward since 1954-55 while production of value has been
relatively stable.

 In only three of the past eight crop years has the average price
received for Florida sweet corn been equal to or higher than the Florida
parity equivalent.24 In four of the eight crop years, average prices received
were equivalent to 91 to 94 percent of parity. In 1954-55 Florida's season
average price was only 82 percent of the state parity price equivalent.
The base period for these parity calculations is the average of prices
received in the 10-year period immediately preceding the year being reported.
If they were on the same base period as that used for some of our basic
commodities the figures would be much lower.

 Data from the U. S. Department of Agriculture indicate also that
Florida prices for fall sweet corn have been generally lower in relation to
parity than winter or spring harvested corn. Prices for fall corn have been
equal to 90 percent or more of the Florida parity equivalent price in three of
the past eight.seasehc, for winter corn in eight of the past nine seasons and
for spring harvested corn in five of the past nine seasons.


 Returns to Growers

 Net returns to sweet corn growers are available for a continuous
five-year period 1952-53 to 1956-57 and for the 1960-61 season in the
Everglades and for five of the same six seasons in the Zellwood area.25
As stated earlier, these data represent the medium to large-size growers
and are perhaps more representative of specialized sweet corn operations.
Everglades' growers have had net returns ranging from $0.34 per crate ($0.82
per hundredweight) in 1960-61 to a minus $0.51 per crate (-$1.01 per
hundredweight) in 1953-54. Negative returns accrued to Everglades growers
in four of the six years shown.


 22Appendix Table 4 and Figure 1.

 23Figure 2.

 24Appendix Table 5.


25Appendix Table 6.