9 
1964, the largest concentration was again the 26 to 100 membership size, 
but this concentration was in the volume of business category of $500,000 
or more. The less-than-26 membership class in 1964 included a larger 
percentage of the associations than in 1952. The middle, or 26 to 100 
membership grouping, had about the same in the two years. 
The trend toward cooperatives handling larger volumes of business while 
comprised of fewer members closely parallels the basic trend in the or- 
ganization of fruit and vegetable production in the United States. 
Fruit and vegetable farms, particularly those in the major producing 
areas of the Pacific and South Atlantic States, are becoming larger, 
and it is in these regions that cooperative marketing firms are found 
in largest numbers. 
Data presented earlier indicates that the increase in volume of busi- 
ness and the decline in memberships is not peculiar to the above states. 
Decline in memberships per association is occurring in all geographic 
regions and to an extent suggests the inereasing concentration of fresh 
fruit and vegetable production in the hands of fewer and larger pro- 
ducers throughout the country. 
Trend in Operating Methods 
The operating methods of fruit and vegetable marketing associations 
are subject to change from time to time. They were organized to meet 
grower needs and these varied from one area to another and from one 
product to another. A common thread, however, binds fruit and vege- 
table associations together regardless of area served or products 
handled, Marketing efficiency is the aim of all associations. In 
order to survive, they must respond to changes in the economic 
environment in which they operate. 
Fruit and vegetable marketing cooperatives perform a wide range of 
services for members. As indicated earlier, these services center on 
assembling, preparing for market, shipping and selling members' crops. 
The tendency in recent years has been for cooperatives to expand these 
services. 
Services Performed.--Since the early 1950's fresh fruit and vegetable 
marketing associations have expanded at an increasing rate into the 
field of farm supplies and production services such as fertilizing, 
spraying and hauling. Twenty-three percent of all associations pur- 
chased supplies and performed service activities in 1952, and 38 percent 
in 1964. The number of associations engaged in purchasing and service 
activities was greater in 1964 than in 1952 for all major commodity 
groups (figure 6 and appendix table 5). 
Fruit and vegetable marketing associations purchasing supplies numbered 
322 in 1952, and 250 in 1964 (appendix table 6). This represents a 
decline of 22 percent. 
