MARKETING FRESH LYCHEES 
By DE WITT EATON 
SARASOTA, FLORIDA 
That a paper covering the marketing of fresh Lychees is written at this time 
is quite remarkable from two entirely different points of view. First, it is sur- 
prising that it is being written at so late a date, since the oldest Lychee tree now 
living in Florida, was planted here, according to record, in 1907 or forty-three 
years ago. That is a long time between original planting and commercial marketing. 
On the other hand considering that the first small commercial planting of this 
delicious fruit made at Laurel, Florida was established in 1940, only ten years ago, 
it is indeed interesting that in so short a time a discussion of marketing this product 
could take place. However, the astonishingly rapid expansion of plantings lends 
validity to the problem. 
To Wm. R. Grove of Laurel, E. L. Wirt of Babson Park and Judge C. E. 
Ware of Clearwater credit must be given for first visualizing the Lychee as the 
basis for a profitable agricultural enterprise. Under the leadership of these men 
and with their enthusiasm, the industry has grown in a few short years to a point 
where the problem of marketing the fresh fruit must be considered and the future 
planned for. From this time forward, the available quantities of fresh fruit will 
make the industry important enough to warrant our seeking sound and progressive 
marketing methods. During the past few months many unsolicited articles about 
the Lychee have appeared in newspapers and periodicals. At least three references 
have been noted in motion pictures. The fruit this summer received wide national 
distribution through the medium of a “Fruit of the Month Club” and many retail 
stores quickly sold their supply of fresh Lychees to enthusiastic customers who 
found them being offered for the first time. 
Probably most people in this country are familiar with the dried Lychee or 
Lychee nut or at least have heard of them. Chinese restaurants have been serving 
them for years and the better retail grocers stock them regularly. Thus, the Amer- 
ican people are already acquainted with the name Lychee indicating that the pub- 
licity given to the fresh fruit will become immediately effective and the demand 
will more than keep ahead of the supply. 
And speaking of supply it is interesting to note that within the past two 
years approximately sixty new Lychee orchards have been established and more are 
being planted almost every day or as rapidly as young trees become available. These 
trees will commence bearing during the fourth or fifth year. Now, while the 
annual production from any agricultural product cannot be predicted with cer- 
tainty, we do have a ten-year record of experience with which to approximate the 
future. On the basis of this experience it is believed that the estimate of average 
production of three to five pounds of fruit per tree the fifth year, sixty to eighty 
pounds the tenth year and so on, can be accomplished when the trees are planted 
in good, suitable soil and well watered, fertilized and generally well cared for. It 
is obvious, therefore, that in the not too distant future a substantial quantity of 
fresh fruit will be ready for the market. 
It is not too early to organize and put into operation an association of Lychee 
growers having as its two-fold purpose the establishment of good growing practices 
and sound marketing methods. And such an association is now being launched. 
Its members will derive profit from the numerous mistakes made by the citrus 
industry in this state. Early organization will help growers to avoid the pitfalls 
of wide price variances, confused advertising, uncertain markets, substandard quality 
and wasteful growing practices. The by-laws and operating methods of other 
