4 
The most important areas for cocperative marketing of fresh fruits and 
vegetables were the Pacific and South Atlantic regions. These areas 
accounted for 61 percent of all fresh marketing associations in 1952 
and 62 percent in 1964. The Pacific States alone accounted for about 
45 percent of the 1952 total, and 43 percent in 1964. Within the two 
geographic regions, California and Florida were the most important 
States. Together they accounted for 47 percent of all fruit and vegetable 
cooperatives in 1952 and 44 percent in 1964. 
Examination of major fresh product groups handled by Pacific and South 
Atlantic Cooperatives shows that the number of fruit organizations de- 
clined and the number of vegetable associations increased (table 2). 
Of the fruit associations, those marketing citrus showed a substantial 
decline. The number of potato and other vegetable associations for the 
period were 26 percent above the 1952 level in the Pacific region and 
3 percent in the South Atlantic region. 
Trend in Size 
Changes in the size of fresh fruit and vegetable associations are depict- 
ed by taking the average number of memberships and average dollar volume 
of business in 1952 and 1964. Averages based on 595 associations in 
1952 and 416 in 1964, are, however, more likely to show changes in the 
level of cooperative business rather than changes in the size of associ- 
ations, 
Memberships.--Number of members as well as number of cooperatives de- 
clined between 1952 and 1964. The 595 fresh fruit and vegetable market- 
ing cooperatives operating in 1952had a total membership of 85,560. 
This compares with 416 associations in 1964, with memberships totaling 
41,463. 
Considering major product groups, with the exception of citrus, a down- 
ward trend in average memberships is indicated (appendix table 2). The 
average number of members for fruit marketing associations declined from 
126 in 1952 to 103 in 1964. For associations marketing vegetables, average 
memberships decreased from 156 to 80 per association. The relative changes 
from 1952 to 1964 for the major fruit and vegetable groups appear in 
Eigure: 33 
The citrus group was the only one to show an increase in average member- 
ships. Many citrus associations, particularly those in Florida, offer 
growers a complete grove caretaking, harvesting, and marketing service. 
This may explain their ability to attract new members. No similar ser- 
vices are offered on such a broad scale by any other specialized group 
of fruit or vegetable marketing associations. 
Volume.--Total dollar volume of business done by fruit and vegetable mar- 
keting associations increased 41 percent during the 1952-64 period. The 
595 associations operating in 1952 had a volume totaling $370 million. 
Total business volume increased to $522 million in 1964. 
