| Fruits and vegetables are usually more difficult to | | | | grower has little chance of selling to a local store in a |
| market than to produce. There are ready markets | | | | supermarket chain as purchases are made through a |
| available daily or weekly for grain and livestock in | | | | central warehouse. As the number of buyers has |
| almost all areas of the United States. There are few | | | | decreased, the number of producers has decreased, |
| similar markets for fruits and vegetables. Most | | | | but their acreage has increased considerably. There is |
| commodities are produced in abundance and long | | | | often a delay of four to six months after shipment in |
| established market channels may be closed to small | | | | receiving payment in the wholesale market system |
| scale or new producers. A producer may need | | | | when selling through a broker. This often presents a |
| several years to establish a marketing program. The | | | | cash flow problem for many growers. Wholesale |
| number of produce buyers has decreased rapidly in | | | | buyers have strict and specific product quality, grade, |
| recent years. One major nationwide supermarket | | | | and packaging requirements. These purchasing |
| chain has plans to consolidate the number of buying | | | | practices and price squeezes have eliminated market |
| stations for produce to eight in the United States. A | | | | availability to many producers. |