It was reported that buyers seldom lose by buying fruit in this manner, since they have 
become proficient in their production estimates and usually have been buying from the same 
orchards for many years. 
The grower can either be paid in full at the time of sale or receive part then and the re- 
mainder when the fruit is harvested. He usually does not receive any premium for the quality 
or condition of the fruit. Quality, size, and condition of the fruit become involved in the sale 
price only in those sales made later in the season when factors of supply and demand are also 
considered. 
At the time of sale the ownership of the fruit is transferred to the buyer. He assumes all 
responsibility for the fruit including weather and disease losses. He benefits if production is 
larger than that estimated and loses if yields prove smaller. Also, he is responsible for harvest 
arrangements, transportation, and so forth. The grower's only responsibility is to keep the 
orchard in good condition--which is to his advantage anyway. 
This type of purchasing of fresh fruit leads to speculation. In some years, fresh fruit may 
change ownership as often as six times before the fruit is even harvested. 
Fresh Fruit Cost to Canners 
Cost of fresh deciduous fruit to Spanish canners is probably the most expensive item in 
their canning operation. It is considerably higher than in the United States and the British 
Commonwealth. 
TABLE 6.--Fresh fruit prices paid to growers by canners for fruit at the orchard in selected 
areas, Spain, annual 1955-60 
Area, commodity & year 
Peseta Peseta U.S: dol. 
Murcia: per per per 
Apricots: kilo kilo Short ton 
RSG s oe aemtiolns ia ste 4.25 5.00 (ee 
Toe eee eee 4.50 5.00 @) 5.50 ( 
“(7 a eee 4.50 5.25 (2) 5.75 @) 
POEs se nl bids xiars 5.00 5.25 (2) 5.75 @3) 
Tig ce AL ath SA ee 5.00 525 (=) 5.75 (6g) 
ae = ae ee ee a 5.00 5.75 86.94 6.25 94.50 
Peaches: 
N55 ations Ain. o'2is 5.00 5.50 (d) 6.00 (4) 
BOSE Dee ae Looe 5.15 5.50 () 6.00 ¢+) 
ke Cy ee eet ae 5.25 5.75 G) 6.25 (+) 
1 sp Se ee nee 525 5.75 (7) 6.25 G4) 
Me tes tres, 5 5.30 5.80 (+) 6.30 () 
[e/ete a a 5.50 6.25 94.50 7.00 105.84 
Valencia: 
Apricots: 
nis (ais pe == 275 (i 
(folie De a == BE50 (es) 
2 Ey Se te) 
= AS 5} ae a ee ) 
TODAS « eames ales 2 wi sis (>) 
64.2 
NO GO sele\vmatajelstatelelais/aiele 
1 Substantial discrepancy between the official and free market exchange rates make it impossible 
to convert these peseta prices to meaningful U. S. dollar equivalents. In 1960, however, for the 
first time in many years the official and free market rates corresponded closely. An exchange 
rate of 60 pesetas to the U. S. dollar, the official rate, was used to convert 1960 peseta prices 
to U. S. dollar equivalent. 
2 Not available. 
