report summarized results of an opinion survey of 306 fresh produce shippers, 

 wholesalers, and retailers (5_)„ 2/ 



THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RECENT SPOILAGE LOSSES IN MARKETING 



Three sets of estimates of spoilage losses incurred in marketing the five com- 

 modities studied are given in table 1„ Since the estimates -were made from information 

 obtained in different time periods and from different sample designs, the differences 

 among them are to be expected,, Those in column two, of average percentage losses 

 in 1957-61, are the basis of the calculations in this analysis., They represent a 

 relatively recent period, and conform rather closely to the informed opinions of 

 chainstore produce managers obtained in the 1962 survey reported in the earlier 

 study,, 



If the upper limit for potential savings from radiation-pasteurization of fresh 

 commodities is defined as the value of the average loss from spoilage incurred in 

 marketing the commodities, potential savings in marketing fresh strawberries may 

 be estimated at $17„8 million a year This is the average annual spoilage loss for 

 1959 = 63 shown in table 2 B The potential savings in marketing the other commodities 

 studied are also presented in table 2, as well as data on farm production both for the 

 fresh market and for processing,, Appendix table 10 shows, by State of origin, the 

 1962 domestic interstate shipment of each commodity for the fresh market,, For 

 California, which ships more than 50 percent of the Nation's fresh strawberries, 

 production of strawberries for the fresh market is reported by month, county, and 

 shipping station in appendix table 11« 



Table 1. — Estimates of marketing spoilage losses, United States, 19^2-51, 1957-61, and 



1962 



Fresh 

 commodity 



lo 



: of 



19^2-51 spoilage 



sses as a percenta 



quantity shipped 



ge 

 1/ 



: 1957-61 spoilage 

 : losses as a percentage 

 : of retail value 2/ 



: 1962 spoilage as a 

 : percentage of quantity 

 : shipped 3/ 



Strawberries . . 







25.1 



5-8 



21.6 



15.3 



11 





Percent 



15.0 



9.0 

 16.0 



1.6 



2.4 





13.0 

 8. % 

 9-7 

 3.8 



3.8 



l/ Losses in Agriculture. A Preliminary Appraisal for Review (15). 



2/ Includes total spoilage requiring items to be discarded, and partial spoilage re- 

 quiring reduction in retail prices. Unpublished estimates of the Market Quality 

 Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



2/ Opinions of independent and cooperative chainstore produce managers. Number of 

 observations from each city are: Boston 5> Chicago 4, and New York 4. 



4/ Not available. 



2/ Underscored numbers in parentheses refer to Bibliography, p. 20. 



- 2 - 



