Prices paid to manufacturers for metal 
cans, cases, and glass items of the commonly 
used sizes varied considerably. The highest 
prices per thousand for seven types of metal 
cans ranged from 10 to 52 percent above the 
lowest prices paid. These variations reflected 
possible regional differences, and variations 
in freight costs, quantities purchased, and 
material specifications. 
Forty percent of the cooperative processors 
contacted indicated possibilities for coopera- 
tive purchase of containers. They thought 
such efforts would be most beneficial in 
cases where cooperative processors are 
relatively small and lack individual buying 
power. 
Over half of the processors interviewed 
however, believed that cooperative manu- 
facture of containers was either a possibility 
or a definite opportunity. A few large proc- 
essors were actively interested in the co- 
operative manufacture of metal cans, and to a 
limited extent in the fabrication of corrugated 
paperboard containers. Interest was greatest 
in areas where several large associations 
were processing a similar line of products 
packed in standard containers. 
Questions about the feasibility of cooperative 
manufacture centered principally on having 
sufficient volume of one or several types of 
containers (as there are wide variations in 
size, weights, and finishes of containers) 
and meeting technological changes underway 
in the container industry, such as the trend 
toward use of lighter weight materials and con- 
tainers with more consumer appeal, 
iv 
Further cooperative procurement of con- 
tainers appears feasible in California, which 
accounts for 36 percent of the total U.S. pack 
of processed fruits and vegetables. Can manu- 
facturing by C. T. Supply Co., Fremont, Calif., 
and corrugated container fabrication by Fruit 
Growers Supply Co., Los Angeles, are ex- 
amples of successful operations. Smaller as- 
sociations should be able to conduct similar 
operations through federated associations, 
such as Consolidated Agricultural Industries 
at Los Angeles, 
The Florida pack accounts for only about 
8 percent of total U.S. processed fruits and 
vegetables, but virtually all canned citrus 
fruits and canned or frozen citrus juices, The 
Winter Garden (Fla,)Citrus Products Coopera- 
tive manufactures a Substantial portion of the 
cans it uses, There appears to be substantial 
possibilities for the cooperative manufacture 
of metal or composition cans inthe citrus area 
by a federated association such as Citrus 
Central, Inc,, Winter Park, Fla. 
In the Northwest, a wide variety of deciduous 
fruits and vegetables accounts for about 13 
percent of the U.S, pack, Cooperative pur- 
chase of some items and manufacture of cans 
seem to havea few possibilities in the Portland, 
Oreg., area where a limited number of can 
types and sizes are used, 
In the Northeast, opportunities for coopera- 
tive purchase of containers appear limited by 
the wide variety of products and dispersion 
of firms. A few of the large cooperatives, 
however, might advantageously manufacture 
cans or fabricate corrugated paperboard con- 
tainers, 
