The Organization of Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Markets in Denver, Salt Lake City, El Paso, Albuquerque, and Butte

Excerpts from the report Introduction: Five wholesale produce markets in Texas and the Mountain States are the major sources of fresh fruits and vegetables for a vast area stretching from the Mexican to the Canadian borders. The operations of wholesale produce firms in these markets -- Denver, Salt Lake City, El Paso, Albuquerque, and Butte -- are probably the most extensive, in terms of geographic coverage by the employees of the firms, of any in the United States. Many firms make regular deliveries 400 and 500 miles away. This report describes the organization and operation of these markets, including the buying, selling, and operating practices of the wholesalers and chains in the markets, and the changes that have taken place during the past quarter century. The information on which the report is based was obtained as part of a nationwide study of the organization and operations of wholesale produce markets. The purpose of the study was to describe and appraise the current status of wholesale markets and the changes that had taken place in them. The findings should give firms in wholesale and shipping-point markets, farmers, and interested citizens and public agencies a better understanding of the forces at work in the marketing system for fresh fruits and vegetables, and provide a basis for making better decisions in adjusting to the changes taking place throughout the structure of marketing.