36 
Coast States increased more than $48 million. An estimated $5 million 
of crops were negotiated in the South Atlantic region in 1964, whereas 
no bargaining activity was recorded in that region 10 years earlier. 
In the Central region the increase in the farm value exceeded $15 million 
between 1954 and 1964. 
In 1954, all fruit bargaining associations were organized and operating 
on a one-commodity basis, and much of the subsequent growth in associa- 
tion numbers reflected a continued growth in specialization (appendix 
table 27). Only 2 of 24 fruit associations bargained for more than a 
single product in 1964. Half of the six vegetable associations operat- 
ing in 1954 dealt in more than one product,but much of the recent 
growth in vegetable activity shows a tendency toward specialization. 
Although there wasa net grain of 14 associations for vegetable crops 
over the 10-year period, the number organized along multiproduct lines 
increased by only 5 associations, 
In 1964, fruit bargaining cooperatives negotiated for 9 crops, the most 
important of these,apples and berries (appendix table 28). In 1954 no 
associations dealt in these two crops. For vegetables, the largest 
number of associations operating in 1964 were for tomatoes, beans, 
peas, and asparagus. With the exception of peas, these were also among 
the products reflecting the greatest increase in association numbers 
between 1954 and 1964. Over the 10-year period, bargaining associations 
were formed for five new vegetable and six new fruit crops. Bargain- 
ing efforts for two crops, beets and cabbage, were discontinued over 
this period. 
Current Status 
The number of members and number of fruit and vegetable bargaining 
associations engaged in specified activities in 1964-65 are shown in 
appendix table 29. Of 70 bargaining associatins operating in 1964, 43 
actively negotiated market terms for their members. Twelve associa- 
tions were primarily angaged in collecting market information, while 
10 engaged in little or no operational activities. Almost 15,000 
members, or about 85 percent of all bargaining association memberships, 
belonged to negotiating associations that year. 
The value of fruits negotiated by associations in that year was about 
$52 million, while the 20 negotiating vegetable associations represented 
a farm value of $68 million (table 14). Thus, the total negotiating 
effort entailed approximately $120 million farm product value, the pro- 
portion attributed to fruits and vegetables being 43 and 57 percent, 
respectively. Adding the value of business represented by participation 
plans in the citrus industry increases the total value to about $193 mil- 
lion. 
While the absolute amount involved in cooperative bargaining may appear 
impressive the share under cooperative control is rather small. Data 
