As previously noted, much of the volume of medium-sized and large plants 

 listed under the "independent producer" category is in reality grown under 

 some contractual or financial arrangement between producers and secondary 

 contractors. Live buyers are of minor importance to these size groups and 

 are largely concerned with assembly of fowl and heavy young chickens. 



In Areas 2 and 5, which lead in the production of commercial meat 

 chickens, and in Area 4, where direct contracting by processors and second- 

 ary contractors is important, even on the basis of incomplete data, plants 

 are able to procure about half their supplies within 25 miles of the plant, 

 and another 25 percent within 25-50 miles. In contrast, the proportions are 

 roughly reversed for Areas 3 and 6, the former concentrating on fowl, 

 which tend to be scattered over a wide area, and the latter drawing heavily 

 from eastern Connecticut. In some instances, the more distant figures may 

 include live buyer operations known to the processing plant operator. As 

 plant size increases, so does the size of the supply area. (Table 9). 



Table 9. Supply Areas: Percentage of Volume Obtained 

 Within Specified Distances from Slaughtering Plants 



Area* 



Distance 



1 



2 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 6 



Plant Size No. of Plants 



* Based on data for small, medium and large plants. 



t Data not collected on all plants in this group. Estimated from a sub-sample. 



+ Over 50 miles. 



Market Outlets 



Data on market outlets of processing units are influenced by the propor- 

 tions of plants of different sizes. Very small units in all areas tend to deal 

 directly with consumers and, secondarily, with stores, restaurants, hotels, 

 camps, and institutions. In heavily populated areas, larger units have begun 

 direct-store distribution on a significant scale. Area 3, which specializes in 

 fowl, moves most of its volume through wholesale receivers. Chain store or- 

 ganizations and packer branches are important outlets for plants in Areas 

 2, 4, 5, and 6, taking 20-28 percent of the output. Plants in Areas 3, 4, 5, 



26 



