144 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
we did not include the cost of grove or the interest thereon. In consider¬ 
ing grower’s gross profit during this period it must be remembered that 
during a large portion of the present season grapefruit has sold at lower 
prices than the average price figured in this statement, also that the grower 
cannot always figure on making a profit, as there are seasons of adversities 
and heavy losses. 
The jobber’s gross profit of 60 cents per box, or 24 per cent., is not un¬ 
reasonable, although we believe that a jobber would be satisfied with a gross 
profit of a little less than this amount. 
This statement clearly demonstrates that the profits of the retailers, ho¬ 
tels and restaurants are extremely unreasonable, and explains why it is 
that many times during a season the grower sells his product at a loss, and 
yet the consumer at the same time pays extreme prices. 
At times when the supply of a perishable product exceeds the demand the 
grower or grower’s marketing agent must sell the grower’s product at a 
low price to the jobbers in order to effect distribution. At such times the 
jobber must work on close margins in order to force sales and dispose of 
the heavy receipts. 
It is a well known fact, however, that at times when such conditions ex¬ 
ist and the consumer should have the advantage of low prices, which in 
turn would create a very heavy demand and enable the grower to dispose 
of the heavy supplies, the retailers, hotels and restaurants hold their prices 
up and make very little, if any, cut in their selling price—figuring that as 
they are able to purchase at a low price their profits will be that much 
greater. 
The information from which the attached statement was compiled was 
gathered early this season on grapefruit, and without any idea of using 
same in connection with tariff arguments. 
We have never gathered similar information covering oranges, but feel 
very safe in saying that both the grower and the jobber realize a smaller 
profit on oranges at times when the market is in fairly good shape (as it 
was during this period on grapefruit) than they do on grapefruit; whereas 
the retailers, hotels and restaurants obtain about as large a percentage of 
profit on oranges as they do on grapefruit. 
This statement clearly proves that if the tariff on foreign citrus fruits 
was removed, it would not benefit the ultimate consumer. It would, how- 
