CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE CIRCULAR 5 NOVEMBER, 1926 SERIES ON CALIFORNIA CROPS AND PRICES LETTUCE H. R. WELLMAN PUBLISHED BY THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, College of Agriculture, University of California, and United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Dis- tributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. B. H. Crocheron, Director, California Agricultural Extension Service. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTING OFFICE BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1926 CONTENTS PAGE Summary 3 Introduction 6 Acreage 6 Production 8 Trend of lettuce shipments, United States 8 Main lettuce-producing states 10 Main Iceberg lettuce-producing states 11 Trend of shipments in main Iceberg lettuce-producing states 11 Big Boston lettuce-producing states 12 Lettuce-producing areas in California 14 Seasonal movement 16 Seasonal movement of lettuce, United States 16 Competition between Iceberg and Big Boston shipments 16 Seasonal movement of California lettuce 18 Competition between Iceberg lettuce-producing sections 18 Distribution 25 Most of the lettuce is marketed in large cities 25 Iceberg lettuce more widely distributed than Big Boston lettuce 25 Distribution of Imperial Valley lettuce 26 Important markets for California lettuce 28 Consumption 30 Prices of Iceberg lettuce 33 Chicago jobbing prices representative of those prevailing in the Eastern markets 33 Relation between Chicago jobbing prices and prices f.o.b. cash track Imperial Valley 33 Price characteristics 35 Trend of prices 40 Tables 42 Sources of current information 50 LETTUCE H. R. WELLMANi SUMMARY The two outstanding developments in the head lettuce industry during recent years have been (1) a rapid increase in production, particularly in the western states, and (2) an equally rapid increase in demand which has prevented a fall in price. In 1925 almost seven times as many cars of head lettuce were shipped as in 1917, and almost twice as many as in 1921. This large increase was caused mainly by the rapid expansion in the production of Iceberg lettuce which is produced almost exclusively in the irri- gated sections of the West. There has been practically no increase in the carlot shipments of Big Boston lettuce during the past four years, but the carlot shipments of Iceberg lettuce have more than doubled. At the present time Iceberg lettuce constitutes approxi- mately 80 per cent of the total United States commercial lettuce crop as compared with 38 per cent in 1917. The demand for lettuce has kept pace with the rapid increase in production. Although the price is just as high, people are eating almost twice as much lettuce as they did five years ago. Even now, however, the per capita consumption for the United States as a whole is not large, being only a little more than five heads per year in 1925. The chief cause for this low consumption is to be found in the fact that many people do not eat head lettuce at all, and many others eat it only occasionally, mainly because they can not purchase it readily throughout the year. In the large cities in which lettuce is available most of the time, the per capita consumption is from two to three times that for the United States as a whole. Just how much the total consumption can be increased by the further development of the smaller markets is uncertain. Lettuce shippers, particularly in the western states, have already made considerable progress in develop- ing the smaller cities into carlot markets. This is illustrated by the fact that 50 per cent more markets received direct carlot shipments from the Imperial Valley during the 1925-26 season than during the 1922-23 season. Further progress is hindered by the lack of agencies in the undeveloped markets that are able to handle lettuce in carlots. 1 Extension Specialist in Agricultural Economics. 4 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 California is the most important head lettuce-producing state in the Union. In 1925 the shipments from this state amounted to over one-half of the total shipments and almost three-fourths of the Iceberg shipments. Arizona and Colorado, however, are rapidly becoming important Iceberg lettuce-shipping states. During recent years, the shipments from each of these states have increased even faster than those from California. Almost one-half of the California lettuce is produced in the Imperial Valley, which is the largest single lettuce-producing section in the United States. During the past few years, however, shipments from the counties of Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz have increased more rapidly than those from the Imperial Valley so that the coast district, which includes these counties, is soon likely to equal the Imperial Valley in lettuce production. Lettuce is an all-year around product. Active shipments of both Big Boston and Iceberg lettuce continue throughout the year. The heaviest shipping seasons of these two types of lettuce, however, occur at different periods. Thus they supplement one another and make it possible to place a fairly uniform supply of lettuce on the consuming markets every month of the year. California is the only state that ships lettuce continuously through- out the year. Fortunately the heaviest shipments occur at the times when the shipments from other states are lightest, although there is no period during the year when California lettuce does not meet with considerable competition. A study of lettuce prices indicates that certain practices are desirable : (1) It usually pays to grow lettuce in a given section only at those times when good quality lettuce can be produced, because, with the exception of times of abnormally high price, poor quality lettuce seldom brings a sufficient price to net any profit to the grower. In addition, price changes can not as yet be forecast sufficient far in advance to enable growers to have their lettuce ready for market at just the times prices are high. Prices over the past six years have averaged as high at one season as at another. It is true, of course, that during a given year prices fluctuate considerably, being high at some periods and low at others, but these high and low prices have not been repeated at the same periods year after year. (2) Because of the inability to forecast price changes sufficiently far in advance, lettuce should be planted so as to mature gradually over as long a period as is consistent with the production of good 1926] LETTUCE quality. By so doing, growers may avoid having all of their lettuce sell on a low market and instead obtain the average of the high and low prices for the season, thus minimizing the risk caused by the wide price fluctuations from day to day and from week to week. (3) Lettuce growing is likely to prove more profitable to those growers who undertake it as a long-time proposition than to those who ''jump into it one year and out the next." Any forecast of the future of the lettuce industry is particularly hazardous because it is a relativel}^ unstable crop. The future con- sumption will probably increase provided small markets are reached by the marketing agencies. There may also be an increase of per capita consumption in the large cities. The people are being con- stantly urged by dieticians to eat more leafy vegetables. This has already had considerable effect in increasing consumption, but the full effect has probably not yet been reached. Whether this increasing consumption will keep pace with the increasing production of the future is difficult to forecast. In many sections lettuce has been grown for only a few years, and there are undoubtedly new areas that may become important lettuce-producing, districts but which have not yet been planted to this crop. Just what will happen in each of the different sections during the next few years is uncertain. Even in the older localities that are well estab- lished, lettuce growing is less stable than fruit growing because the growers can get into and out of the lettuce business rather quickly. Usually between three and four months elapse from the time it is planted until it is harvested. Furthermore, in most of the sections in California, outside of the Imperial Valley, and to a considerable extent in Arizona and Idaho, two and sometimes three crops of lettuce are raised on the same land during the year. The present situation is favorable for lettuce growing in California, but this condition can not be expected to continue if a sudden increase in production should, for any reason, take place, particularly if such an increase should greatly accentuate the peaks of shipments. The lettuce grower should not expect increased prices for his product during the forthcoming years, because the present level of prices will probably stimulate production sufficiently to supply any reasonable increase in demand. A conservative expansion in the lettuce industry in California appears to be justified, but it should be made upon land primarily adapted to the production of this crop. Lettuce growing is likely to be profitable only where a high yield of good quality lettuce can be obtained at a relatively low cost. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 INTRODUCTION2 This publication deals solely with head lettuce which is the pre- dominant commercial lettuce crop. Leaf lettuce is grown mainly as a greenhouse crop near the large cities and is relatively unimportant from the standpoint of carlot distribution. The two principal commercial types of head lettuce grown in the United States are Big Boston and New York or Iceberg. In this pub- lication, Iceberg is the name used to denote the latter type as it is the one generally used by the trade and in the market news reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. There are a number of varieties included in this type, but in commercial transactions practically no distinction is made between them. These two types of head lettuce are somewhat distinct from the standpoint of market requirements since Big Boston lettuce forms a loose head, and Iceberg lettuce, a firm head. The producing areas of these two types of head lettuce are also distinct. Iceberg lettuce is produced almost exclusively in the irri- gated sections of the West, while Big Boston lettuce is grown mainly in the Eastern and Southeastern states (fig. 1). Attempts to grow Iceberg lettuce in these states have generally been unsuccessful as climatic conditions during most of the growing season in these sections are not favorable to the development of firm heads. ^ ACREAGE In 1925, 86,400 acres in the United States were devoted to the com- mercial production of head lettuce, 98 per cent of which were in the six western states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington and in the five eastern states of Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina (fig. 1). The combined acreage in the four states of Arizona, California, Colorado, and New York amounted to 70,740 acres, or 82 per cent of the total ; California alone had 49,320 acres, or 57 per cent of the total. 2 Acknowledgment. Tlie author of this circular wishes to express his thanks and indebtedness to the following organizations which have generously con- tributed from their data and their time : Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture, California Cooperative Crop Eeporting Service, American Fruit Growers, Inc., of California, Loma Fruit Company, and the California Vegetable Union. 3Hauck, Charles W., Marketing lettuce, U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 1412:6, 1926. 1926] LETTUCE CD arq ® pi 02 CO e» fD ^ "■ P d • P P CQ w W o 8 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [ClRC. 5 Of the 86,400 acres, 69,600 (81 per cent) were devoted to the production of Iceberg lettuce, and 16,800 (19 per cent), to the produc- tion of Big Boston lettuce. Ninety-nine per cent of the Iceberg lettuce acreage was in the six states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Washington, and 71 per cent was in California alone ; while approximately 92 per cent of the Big Boston lettuce acreage was in the five states of Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The total commercial acreage of head lettuce in the United States increased from 16,870 acres in 1918 to 86,400 acres in 1925, an increase of 412 per cent in seven years. The greatest expansion occurred in the western states, where the acreage increased ■ from 7770 acres in 1918 to 69,600 acres in 1925, an increase of 796 per cent, as compared with an increase of 85 per cent in Big Boston lettuce acreage during the same period. California's lettuce acreage increased from 7,140 acres in 1918 to 49,320 acres in 1925, an increase of 591 per cent. The acreage of Iceberg lettuce in the other western states increased from 630 in 1918 to 20,280 in 1925, an increase of 2,219 per cent. The most rapid expan- sion in the Iceberg lettuce-producing states, other than California, occurred in 1922, when the acreage increased 272 per cent over the preceding year. PRODUCTION Trend of Lettuce Shipments, United States. — The production of lettuce in the United States, as shown by the carlot shipments, has been increasing very rapidly. In 1925 almost seven times as many cars w«re shipped as in 1917 and almost twice as many as in 1921 (%. 2). Of the 37,040 cars shipx)ed in 1925, 80 per cent were of the Iceberg type and 20 per cent of the Big Boston type. This condition is almost the reverse of that existing in 1917 when 62 per cent of the 5,428 cars shipped in that year were of the Big Boston type, and only 38 per cent of the Iceberg type. The rapid increase of Iceberg shipments in 1920 when the shipments almost tripled those of the preceding year placed them above the Big Boston shipments, a position which they have continued to maintain. Figure 2 shows clearly that the production of Iceberg lettuce has increased much more rapidly than that of Big Boston lettuce. From 1917 to 1922, the shipments of Big Boston lettuce experienced a fairly uniform rate of growth, the normal rate during this period being 1926] LETTUCE 20.4 per cent per year.* Since 1923, however the total amount of Big Boston lettuce moving into consumption has probably not increased. The carlot shipments decreased approximately 19 per cent between 1923 and 1925, but the volume shipped to market by truck has undoubtedly increased, as the total acreage planted to Big Boston lettuce was only 4.4 per cent smaller in 1925 than in 1923. The main truck shipments of Big Boston lettuce come from New Jersey and Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, United States, 1917-1925 Total S Big Boston £ S o to Iceberg CO a> O r-l C\l to •* u: M r-* CM CM CM CM CM CM o> o> Oi a> Cf> Oi CD o r-i cH fH iH t-t fH r-4 iH Fig. 2. — The remarkable increase in total lettuce shipments in the United States was caused mainly by the rapid expansion of Iceberg lettuce production in the western states. Data compiled from table 7. 4 A straight line of trend was fitted to the logarithms of the Big Boston lettuce shipment figures for the years 1917-1922 by the method of least squares. The equation for the line of trend is log. y = 3.55033 + .08063 x. 10 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 southeastern New York and are unloaded in New York City. That a much larger proportion of New Jersey lettuce is now being moved by truck than formerly is indicated by the fact that carlot shipments were only 3 per cent larger in 1925 than in 1923, while acreage was 77 per cent larger. Iceberg lettuce shipments, on the other hand, have increased with remarkable uniformity since 1920, the normal rate of increase being 29.7 per cent a year.^ In 1925 carlot shipments of Iceberg lettuce were 265 per cent larger than in 1920, while the carlot shipments of Big Boston lettuce were only 31 per cent larger. Relative Importance of Main Lettuce-Shipping States, 1925 o o o o o Calif. N.Y, Ariz. Colo, Fla, Vfash, S.C, N.C, K.J. Idaho Others Total Per Cars cent ^ iil608 58.2 3819 10.3 3477 9.4 3061 8.3 1510 4.1 817 2,2 700 1.9 537 1.5 469 1.3 407 1.1 635 1.7 37040 100.0 Fig. 3. -California produces more lettuce than all other states combined. Data from table 7. Main Lettuce-Producing States. — California produces more lettuce than all other states combined. As shown in figure 3, the shipments in 1925 were 58.2 per cent of the total carlot shipments in the United States. New York is the next most important lettuce-producing state, followed by Arizona, Colorado, and Florida. The ten states shown in figure 3 produced approximately 98 per cent of the United States' lettuce crop. 5 A straight line of trend was fitted to the logarithms of the Iceberg lettuce shipment figures for the years 1920-1925 by the method of least squares. The equation of the line of trend is log. y = 3.91995 + .11284 a;. 1926] LETTUCE 11 Main Iceherg Lettuce-Producing States. — Iceberg lettuce is pro- duced on a commercial basis in 10 of the 11 western states.^ Only the five states of California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and Idaho, however, are of any considerable importance in this regard. These five states shipped 99.2 per cent of the Iceberg lettuce in 1925 (fig. 4). Eelative Importance of Main Iceberg Lettuce-Shipping States, 1925 Per o Cars cent Calif. 21608 73.0 Ariz. Colo. Wash. Idaho Others 250 Total 29620 Fig. 4. — Approximately all of the Iceberg lettuce is produced in five western states. California alone produces almost three-fourths of the total. Data compiled from table 7. The three states of California, Arizona, and Colorado shipped 95 per cent of this type of lettuce, and California alone shipped 73 per cent. California's shipments were more than six times as large as those from Arizona and more than seven times as large as those from Colorado, the two next most important Iceberg lettuce-producing states. Trend of Shipments in Main Iceherg Lettuce-Producing States. — Prior to 1920 practically all of the Iceberg lettuce was produced in California, less than 70 cars a year being shipped from other sections. Since 1920 other western states, mainly Arizona, Colorado, Washing- ton, and Idaho, have become important lettuce-producing sections. The total shipments of Iceberg lettuce from the states other than Cali- fornia have increased even more rapidly than those from California during the past five years (fig. 5). From 1920 to 1925, California's shipments increased 194 per cent, and the shipments from other states increased 947 per cent. Arizona and Colorado have experienced the most rapid continuous increase (fig. 6). Up to and including 1923, 6 Arizona, California, Colorado, IdaJio, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In 1922 one car of lettuce was shipped from Montana. New Mexico reported 1500' acres of lettuce in 1925, but shipped only 158 cars. 12 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 the shipments from Washington and Idaho also increased rapidly (fig. 7). Since 1923, however, the shipments from these two states have declined, Idaho's shipments in 1925 being 67 per cent less than in 1923, and Washington's shipments in 1925 being 24 per cent less than in 1923. Carlot Shipments of Iceberg Lettuce, California and other States, 1917-1925 Calif, Others to r-t •H CO o ^ CO O CO r-i Ui to lO iri ^i' r-i CO o tt O o c- to CO t- iH s U CM CVl CM c^ c;> a> in iH 05 •H r-i CM in to CO ui t- c- O * ^ in to rH c^ CM to rH in O iH to ID Ti< 00 260 200 100 90 80 70 60 1 50 I ;4o » 30 20 10 9 8 7 Cal ifbrnia / ^ A y^ i /^ / / / / / / / ^* / 1 i / ^ / / / / / f ^hers / / i Fig. 5. — The production of Iceberg lettuce in sections outside of California has increased even more rapidly than in California. Data compiled from table 8. Big Boston Lettuce-Producing States. — Approximately 95 per cent of the United States ' shipments of Big Boston lettuce originate in the five states shown in figure 8. New York was the most important ship- ping state for this type of lettuce in 1925, followed by Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and New Jersey. 1926J LETTUCE 13 Lettuce shipments from the four states of Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and New Jersey, were smaller in 1925 than in 1922/ In three of these states, Florida, South Carolina, and New Jersey, the peak of shipments was reached in 1922, and in North Carolina it Carlot Shipments of Iceberg Lettuce, Arizona and Colorado, 1917-1925 t- CD o> O rH CM to ^ lO ^ •H iH CM CO CM CM ^ CM a o> o> o> o> Oi o> o> o> Fig. 6. — Arizona and Colorado are rapidly becoming important Iceberg lettuce-shipping states. Data from table 7. was reached the following year. The shipments from New York have remained at approximately the same level since 1923. Florida is the only one of these five states that shows a decline in shipments every year since 1922. 7 It must be remembered, however, that a greater proportion of New Jersey 's lettuce, in particular, is being moved by truck. 14 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Lettuce-Producing Areas in California. — In 1925 carlot shipments of lettuce originated in 25 of the 58 counties in California. The principal lettuce-producing districts in order of their importance are : (1) the Imperial Valley, (2) the coast counties, extending from Santa Barbara County on the south to Contra Costa County on the north, (3) the southern California counties, j^rincipally Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego, and (4) the Sacramento and San Joaquin valley counties. Almost one-half of California's shipments in 1925 originated in the Imperial Valley, and approximately 86 per cent originated in the territory included in the Imperial Valley and coast counties (fig. 9). The interior valley counties are a relatively unim- portant lettuce-producing district — only 3.2 per cent of California's shipments originated in this district in 1925. Carlot Shipments of Iceberg Lettuce, Idaho and Washington, 1917-1925 O O rS Idaho Wash. u o o in o o> iH CVJ t- CVJ CO CO xd* CO o r-\ CO CVJ in Tf in yi ^ ^ Q ^y/^ X Q J y^ X 7 ft ^ vv p^^ A '^i o Wa.shing^oi n— i/ 1 • > > / / / '■^-. 8 i / daho 2 f / / t / i o iH CM to -^ in CVJ CU OJ CM CM CM (Si cn C3> o> 4^ co r-i •«i< lO rH r-i to iH o> CM to fH CM lO rH CM CM CM CM to to CM iH to rj« rH to O t>- t- CO Oi N.Y. CM to CO t- '«:1< CO .H CD rH ^ to l> t- CJ rH CO CD CO iH iH rH t-i to to to to to •H «o a t^ in CM 00 '^ t- N.C. a CO CM «H O -^ CM rH rH to o iH CM to CM '^J^ CO J> !>- LO fH lO U> rH to C-- t- to o s.c. CD c- c;> CM rH co t- CM o iH to to iH t> a> lO ^ t- N.J. lO rH lO CO o> rH CO t- o> rH O ^ o CO c- ir> rH CO CM r-i CM CM -^ lO -^ <* -^i^ Oi O r-* C\J to '«* lO rH cv: CM CM CM CM CM Oi Oi CD cr> a> o> Oi rH t-i rH r-i iH rH r-i Fig. 8. — The shipments of Big Boston lettuce from the main producing states, with the exception of New York, were smaller in 1925 than in 1922. The ship- ments from Florida in particular show a pronounced decline. Data from table 7. 16 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Approximately 90 per cent of the California lettuce shipments in 1925 originated in the five counties shown in figure 11. Imperial County shipped nearly three times as many cars of lettuce as Monterey County, the next largest lettuce shipping county, and almost as much lettuce as was shipped by all other counties combined. The trends of shipments in these five important lettuce-producing counties are shown in figure 12. The three counties of Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, located in the coast district, show a remark- able increase in lettuce production. The shipments from Los Angeles County, on the other hand, have declined almost continuously since 1921. Eelative Importance of Main Lettuce-Shipping Districts in California, 1925 Imperial Valley Coast Couotles Cars Per o cent r 10302 47.7 I Interior Valley Counties Total 8217 38.1 Southern California 2386 11.0 Counties 703 3.2 21608 100.0 R Fig. 9. — The Imperial Valley is tlie largest lettuce-producing district in California. Data compiled from table 11. SEASONAL MOVEMENT Seasonal Movement of Lettuce^ United States. — Lettuce is an all- year around product. Carlot shipments of lettuce in considerable numbers reach the consuming markets every month of the year. The heaviest shipments, how^ever, occur during the winter and early spring months (fig. 13). On an average, more than one-half of the United States' crop of lettuce is shipped during the five months of December to April. March is generally the month of heaviest shipments and June the month of lightest shipments. Competition Between Iceberg and Big Boston Shipments. — Active shipments of both Big Boston and Iceberg lettuce continue through- out the year (fig. 14). With the exception of the two months of July and August, however, the bulk of the lettuce shipments (from 80 to 95 per cent) are of the Iceberg type ; but during these two months the shipments of Big Boston lettuce are as large as those of Iceberg 1926] LETTUCE 17 lettuce. Since the heavy shipping seasons of these two types of lettuce occur at different periods it is possible for a fairly uniform supply of lettuce to be placed on the consuming markets every month of the year with the exception of June. Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, California by Districts, 1920-1925 Imperial Valley- Southern California Counties Coast Counties Interior Valley Courities Fig. 10. — The Coast district is rapidly approaching the Imperial Valley as an important lettuce-producing section. Data compiled from table 11. 18 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Seasonal Movement of California Lettuce. — California is the only state that ships lettuce every month of the year. The heavy ship- ments, however, occur during the fall, winter and spring months (fig. 15). During the past five years, an average of 90 per cent of the lettuce has been shipped during the eight months from October to May, and 66 per cent during the five months from January to May. Only 10 per cent of the lettuce, on an average, has been shipped during the four months from June to September. The tendency, however, is to ship a relatively larger amount of lettuce during these four months. In 1921, only 8.4 per cent was shipped during this period, as compared with 12.8 per cent in 1925. Relative Importance of Main Lettuce-Shipping Counties in California, 1925 >-l CM (O •<*' i5 Cars Per cent Imperial 10302 47.7 Monterey 3581 16.6 Santa Barbara 2552 11.8 Loe Angeles 1709 7.3 Santa Crux 1247 5.8 Others Total 2217 21608 10.8 100.0 Fig. 11. — Approximately 90 per cent of California's lettuce is produced in 5 counties. In 1925 Imperial County alone shipped almost as much lettuce as all other counties combined. Data from table ii. Competition Between Iceberg Lettuce-Producing Sections. — The general extent and periods of competition between the different Ice- berg lettuce-producing sections are shown in figures 16, 17, and 18.^ With the exception of the three months of August, September, and December, the weekly carlot shipments of lettuce from California are larger than the combined weekly shipments from the other Iceberg lettuce-producing states (fig. 16). Although these other states ship some lettuce every week in the year, the general tendency is for their shipments to be heaviest at the times when the shipments from Cali- fornia are lightest, and vice versa. This condition not only lessens the severity of the competition to California growers but, in addition, makes possible a more even distribution of Iceberg lettuce shipments throughout the year. 8 The minor fluctuations in the curves shown in these figures change from year to year because of changes in market conditions which influence shippers to hold back or increase their loadings, and the major fluctuations may be shifted a few weeks either way depending upon the climatic conditions in the producing sections, but the general situation illustrated here is believed to be representative of that prevailing at the present time. 1926] LETTUCE 19 Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, Main Lettuce-Shipping Counties in California, 1920-1925 Imperial ^ CVl Los Angeles o> w Monterey « Santa Barbara *^ Santa Cruz S 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 S ^ 10 9 .8 7 6 _^ __ ^_ ~ y y^ _^' s. v^^''^— Im p«rial ^^ ^ \ / *?^. L.02 ? Angelos" /^' — , V^ flaivVac Ba Z^y /: ^^•^^^* .^^ -^ j ^ / 1 / y If v^^'^SaLD'tec Cruz | Mont* >rey — >^^ / Jf A / / ^ CM to •<)« la CM N CM o> Ol o> o> Fig. 12. — Lettuce shipments from Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties have increased even faster than from Imperial County, while the ship- ments from Los Angeles County show a pronounced decline. Data from table 11. 20 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Percentage of Total Carlot Shipments of United States Lettuce Shipped BY Months, 1924; 1925, and Average, 1921-1925 AT. 1921-25 1924 1925 16 14 12 10 « 8 /' -1925 >< ^ V — 7\ N V' 24. y y -X? 1 <\ y \ / Fig. 13. — Lettuce is an all-year around product. Shipments, however, are heaviest during the winter and early spring and lightest during June. Data computed from table 8 Carlot Shipments of Iceberg and Big Boston Lettuce by Months, 1925 Big Boston Iceberg M SSI I II I INI Per cent of TBig Boston 17.9 Monthly Total Vlcebor^ 82.1 Fig. 14. — Big Boston lettuce competes most severely with Iceberg lettuce during the three months of July, August, and September. Data from table 8. Feb. Uar. Apr. May Juno July Aug. Sept. Oct. Hot. Deo. 13.3 14.6 18.7 11.3 , 7.9 56.4 47.2 28.6 7.5 11.3 6.6 86.7 85.4 81.3 88.7 92.1 43.6 52.8 71.4 92.5 88.7 95.4 1926] LETTUCE 21 The weekly carlot shipments from the principal Iceberg lettuce- producing states other than California are shown in figure 17. The important fact illustrated here is that there is very little direct com- petition between these four states ; all of them compete directly with California but not with each other. Arizona's first crop usually begins to move about the first of December, just when Idaho's second crop Percentage of Total Carlot Shipments of California Lettuce Shipped by Months, 1924, 1925, and Average, 1921-1925 O) t00>f-lt-00LOOOl0«-l«H Av, 1921-25 ^ tjin o> m 4, r-l r^ t^ r-l t-t §CVJ csjtO-*U5lO<-^lHlOO-^ _u rM I t en «^ CO 1925 / i / 'J \ / / X \ f^. 7 \ r -^ e 1921 - 192S / -N^. 19 ">■ \ / \ f -vy X ^. \ \ 19Zi V // \ .. /a f ^ ^^^•« _^^ »^^ Y *** — • s W5 CU +J ;3 © O •< W O % s Fig. 15. — California is the only state that ships lettuce every month of the year. Most of the lettuce, however, is shipped during the 8 months from October to May, inclusive. Data computed from table 9. is about finished. Arizona's second crop is shipped before Wash- ington becomes an important factor in the market, and the bulk of Washington's lettuce is shipped before Colorado's shipments become heavy. Idaho's first crop, which is relatively unimportant, comes on at the same time as the heavy shipments from Washington, but the second crop does not begin to move in any considerable volume until the end of Colorado's season and is finished before Arizona's ship- ments become heavy. 22 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 CSLPS to *i n> O CD _ • o Cars 261 285 223 461 199 410 164 473 120 481 110 575 72 683 47 795 39 610 64 685 37 663 30 968 23 1364 33 1020 68 499 246 357 288 558 114 685 14 736 701 555 102 204 118 170 i 96 141 117 244 dl21 287 101 179 64 166 62 124 98 141 225 no 251 136 238 97 242 88 305 110 460 120 360 110 227 83 253 212 293 160 197 397 82 350 125 440 157 415 1 99 445 54 406 48 479 q 44 360 - 175 441 - 393 276 - 420 314 ^03 307 1926] LETTUCE 23 cfq' o "H Pj t^' o 2 o 3 S2 r P ^ CD Cars 2 8 91 9 106 9 87 13 102 4 110 3 95 3 51 13 34 28 21 77 58 165 32 218 11 225 4 235 9 292 6 444 349 217 3 240 4 1 277 12 6 127 19 3 35 64 3 28 120 2 14 88 2 7 49 2 43 4 20 23 21 154 6 383 417 202 261 223 199 164 120 110 72 47 39 ^ 64 37 w r 30 Ki 23 O 33 6^ o 246 r/3 288 w 114 14 4 w § 24 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 OTQ 00 I CD o 8 3 > M 8 1 Cars » 8 % p. Vly. : 900 800 700 60O 1 .? ? Cars 31 8 33 20 19 5 1 10 15 13 11 11 12 7 16 17 8 4 6 17 4 9 4 2 3 1 4 7 5 27 42 4 138 162 16 292 251 22 290 373 20 306 410 20 212 469 1 71 483 16 189 8 162 3 138 244 5 282 179 166 124 141 110 136 97 88 110 120 110 83 212 160 2 3 392 1 349 4 3 433 1 1 413 11 34 400 38 92 276 98 150 231 81 149 130 55 231 135 21 142 81 9 96 51 33 9 ^10 ni 31 •21 28 7 1=14 r2i 28 4 ^11 .^18 25 2 1^16 23 30 ©20 27 h^ • ^. ^*^»» a ■■*■•• 1 "^•si ■^MB»a T ^^* ilifornia : lettuce Data i h .---• 5 ^^* •^^ 1 ^ ::? 1 'A o su pple through rom table ^ ^ T 1 1 ci o ment eac Dut the } 10. / d <* 9 i ^ O • Si > > w 3 P I -^ ) < o 5! P '-^ P - r cn > - CO to o 3 -^ r - p O k: > - S* (2 o 1926] LETTUCE 25 The competition between the different lettuce-producing sections in California is shown in figure 18. During the first three months of the year practically all of California's lettuce is produced in the Imperial Valley. The first crop of lettuce from the Northern, Central, and Southern Divisions comes on just at the end of the Imperial Valley season, and the second crop from each of these three divisions is nearly finished before the Imperial Valley season begins. The first crop in the Southern Division is generally a little earlier, and the second crop a little later than the first and second crops, respectively, in the Central Division. Summer lettuce in California is produced commercially only in the Central Division. DISTRIBUTION Most of the Lettuce is Marketed in Large Cities. — Sufficient data are not available to make a thorough analysis of the distribution of the United States lettuce shipments, but the data we have give a fairly comprehensive idea of the general situation. Most of the carlot shipments go to cities having a population of 100,000 or more. In 1925, 67.5 per cent of the lettuce shipments were unloaded in 21 cities having a combined population of 20,751,000, which is 66 per cent of the United States population in cities of 100,000 or more (table 1). During recent years considerable progress has been made by the marketing agencies in reaching the smaller markets throughout the United States. The tendency is for a smaller proportion of the lettuce to be sent to the large cities. The percentage of the total carlot ship- ments unloaded in the 21 cities listed in table 1 in 1925 was 67.5 as compared to 71.3 in 1924. Just how much additional progress can be made in developing the smaller markets not already reached is uncertain. An important limiting factor is the lack of agencies in these undeveloi)ed markets that are able to handle lettuce in carlots. Iceberg Lettuce More Widely Distributed than Big Boston Lettuce. Iceberg lettuce is more wddely distributed than Big Boston lettuce. Approximately 92 per cent of the 1925 carlot shipments of lettuce from New York, the main Big Boston lettuce-producing state, were unloaded in 11 cities, and 59 per cent were unloaded in New York City alone. The shipments from Florida, the second most important Big Boston lettuce-producing states, likewise show a limited distribu- tion. Twelve cities received 78.5 per cent of Florida's carlot ship- ments in 1925, and New York City alone received one-half of the shipments. 26 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 The situation just described is a decided contrast to that existing in the distribution of lettuce from most of the western states. Only 62.4 per cent of California's carlot shipments were unloaded in 21 cities, and the two largest markets, New York and Chicago, received only 12 per cent and 11 per cent of the shipments, respectively. TABLE 1 Carlot Unloads of Lettuce in 21 Cities, by States of Origin, 1925 City .a < 6 'o O •73 d j3 CO 6 Total Atlanta 25 60 102 403 122 69 69 44 103 5 35 400 44 158 119 6 88 13 2 2 25 169 206 624 2,341 245 625 226 725 252 1,471 277 2,G15 124 1,155 612 352 566 162 147 411 187 49 40 42 535 102 97 220 172 115 7 21 19 5 2 5 361 5 43 1 99 24 1 63 14 73 17 10 7 32 13 256 65 44 6 2 2 1 8 68 11 6 18 5 16 191 155 113 43 12 18 7 667 Boston 1 1 021 3,900 547 Cincinnati Cleveland 1 865 Denver 541 Detroit 1 7 1,085 523 Kansas City Los Angeles 1,476 466 Minneapolis 63 262 44 127 98 41 35 7 13 14 1 9 11 1 42 16 2 27 22 7 5 16 8 168 7 53 39 1 37 1 3 757 2,248 439 544 7,484 228 Philadelphia 253 7 8 468 62 79 109 2,450 974 Pittsburgh Portland, Ore 367 St. Louis 139 9 1 21 1 89 954 St. Paul 213 Salt Lake City 154 San Francisco 413 Washington 21 26 1 119 4 10 2 29 424 Total 1,894 13,492 2,136 1,185 266 9 3,507 549 710 684 576 25,008 Unloads as a percent- age of total carlot shipments 54.5 62.4 69.8 78.5 65.4 91.8 83.7 67 5 Data compiled from Unloads of Lettuce in Various Markets during 1925 by States of Origin and Months, Bureau of Agricultural Economics unpublished report, April 22, 1926. Distribution of Imperial Valley Lettuce. — A more detailed analysis of the distribution of Imperial Valley lettuce is possible, as the primary destinations of the carlot shipments from this section have been compiled since the 1922-23 season by Mr. C. E. Schultz, local representative of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics at El Centre. The outstanding development has been the continual widening of the markets. Imperial Valley lettuce was sent to 233 markets during the 1925-26 season, as compared to 216 markets in 1924-25, 205 markets in 1923-24, and 155 markets in 1922-23. Many of the smaller markets which formerly received their supplies in less than carlots are now receiving carlots direct. 1926] LETTUCE 27 i-i CD §^ pi ">& P £^ q; 3P^ So <^ to B ?a • ^ 2 as. ^ tr o fc o o 5 « GO d a CO 28 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Figure 19 shows that the geographic distribution of Imperial Valley lettuce shipments coincides remarkably well with that of the population in cities of 100,000 or more, when allowances are made for the distance to the markets and the competition of other sections. The divisions along the eastern coast quite naturally receive a smaller percentage of the Imperial Valley shipments as compared with the population than the divisions farther west, because (1) the distance to the markets in the former divisions is greater, and (2) the competition of Big Boston lettuce supplies is more severe. TABLE 2 Destinations of Imperial Valley Lettuce Shipments Compared with Population IN Cities of 100,000 or More, 1925 Destin ations Estimated population Geographic division Cars* Per cent 1,000 personst Per cent New England 273 2,040 2,921 1,017 311 204 533 234 1,498 3 22 6 32 4 11 3 3 4 2 2 5.9 2.6 16 6 2.541 11,654 7,917 2.447 2,108 749 1,300 466 2,285 8.1 Middle Atlantic .. . 37.0 East North Central 25.1 West North Central 7 8 South Atlantic 6.7 East South Central 2 4 West South Central 4 1 Mountain 1 5 7.3 Total 9,031 100 31,467 100.0 * Data compiled from Summary of Imperial Valley Lettuce Deal, 1924-25, by C. E. Schultz, Bureau of Agricultural Economics. t Population estimates based on Census of 1910 and 1920. 14th Census of U. S. 1, 1920. Important Markets for California Lettuce. — The location and rela- tive importance of 21 important markets for California lettuce are shown in figure 20.^ The majority of these markets are located in the midwestern and eastern states. New York and Chicago are our most important markets, followed by Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Detroit. Each of these markets received more lettuce from California dur- ing the year than from any other state, and over one-half (54 per cent) of the total carlot unloads in the 21 markets were from California. During certain months of the year, however, other states are a more important factor in some of the markets than California. For example, 90 per cent of the unloads in New York City in August were from New York, as compared with 3 per cent from California. 9 The amount of California lettuce marketed in Los Angeles and San Francisco is larger than that indicated by the carlot unloads, as a considerable volume is shipped to these markets by truck. 1926' LETTUCE 29 30 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Because of the location of the producing sections, Big Boston lettuce forms a much more important part of the lettuce supply in the eastern cities than in the midwestern cities. Iceberg lettuce, how- ever, is becoming increasingly important in the eastern cities. For example, 40 per cent of the lettuce receipts in New York City in 1925 were of the Iceberg type as compared with 18 per cent in 1922 (table 3). TABLE 3 Eeceipts of Lettuce in New York City, 1922-1925 Total cars Iceberg Big Boston Year Cars Per cent Cars Per cent 1922 5,569 7,008 8,055 8,525 1,004 1,942 2,736 3,372 18 27.7 34 39.6 4,565 5,066 5,319 5,153 82 1923 . . 72 3 1924 66 1925 60 4 Data compiled from yearly summaries of receipts of fruits and vegetables in New York City (mimeo- graphed), issued by the New York ofhce of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. CONSUMPTION There are no accurate figures available on the total consumption of head lettuce in the United States. Carlot shipments, as reported by the railroads to the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, are less than the total amount of head lettuce consumed as considerable quantities are shipped by truck. Production estimates, on the other hand, are larger than the actual consumption as much lettuce is frequently left in the field. On the whole, it is believed that a more accurate com- parison of the consumption of lettuce between different years is obtained by using carlot shipment figures rather than production estimates. Figure 21 shows the yearly per capita consumption of head lettuce in the United States from 1917 to 1925. During this period con- sumption increased from less than one head per person to five heads per person, an increase of 525 per cent. A fact of great importance to the lettuce industry is that this large increase in consumption has taken place without a corresponding decline in the price. The average prices which consumers have paid for Iceberg lettuce, as indicated by the Chicago jobbing prices^^ have 10 Consumers of course pay much more than the jobbing price, as the retail margin is approximately 40 per cent, but the jobbing price furnishes a fair com- parison one year with another. 1926] LETTUCE 31 remained at approximately the same level for the past five years (see fig. 26). In short, people are not only eating almost twice as much lettuce as they did five years ago, but they are paying as much per head for it now as they did then. Per Capita Consumption of Head Lettuce, United States, 1917-1925 05 •P •H Oh GE» O u 0) %a © c^ CO en o t~\ CJ CO >«^ LO •H rH •H CM o> o> OS Ol €T> CJ^ CJi Fig. 21. — People are eating 6 times as much head lettuce today as they did 9 years ago and almost twice as much as they did 5 years ago. Data obtained by converting carlot shipments to number of heads and dividing the result by the estimated population in the United States. Although the per capita consumption of head lettuce has been increasing rapidly, the present consumption of five heads per person for the United States as a whole can not be considered as high. The chief cause for this low consumption is to be found in the fact that man}^ people do not eat head lettuce at all, and many others eat it only occasionally, mainly because they can not purchase it readily through- out the year. In those markets in which lettuce is available most of the time, the per capita consumption is from two to three times that for the United States as a whole. The average per capita consumption in the 10 markets given in table 4 was 13.2 heads in 1925, over 2% times that for the United States. Of these 10 markets, Boston had the lowest per capita consumption and Chicago the highest. 32 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 TABLE 4 Estimated Per Capita Consumption of Head Lettuce in 10 Cities, 1925 Estimated population metropolitan area, July 1, 1925* Lettuce unloadsf Per capita consumption, City Cars 1,000 heads number of heads Baltimore 858,000 1,909,000 3,589,000 629,000 1,097,000 1,534,000 8,672,000 2,647,000 1,306,000 1,022,000 667 1,021 3,900 547 865 1,085 7,484 2,450 974 954 10,245 15,683 59,904 8,402 13,286 16,666 114,954 37,632 14,961 14,653 11.9 8.2 Chicago . . ... 16.7 13.4 Cleveland 12.1 Detroit 10.9 New York 13.3 14 2 Pittsburgh 11 5 St. Louis 14.3 Total 23,263,000 19,947 306,386 13 2 * Population estimates based on Census of 1910 and 1920, 14th Census of U. S., Vol. 1, 1920. Metro- politan area includes city and civil division within 10 miles of city boundary. t Data on carlot unloads from table 1. Number of heads computed upon the basis of 320 crates of 4 dozen heads each to a car. Unloads of Lettuce in Three Cities by Months, 1925 Nev/ York Chicago ID § to CO to CO PhilEJiolphia rn 100 S .h' to Fig. 22. — Chicago receives a more uniform supply of lettuce throughout the year than New York or Philadelphia, which accounts in part for its higher per capita consumption. Data from table 13. 1926] LETTUCE 33 One of the reasons for the relatively high consumption in Chicago is the uniformity of the lettuce supplies throughout the year (fig. 22). In New York and Philadelphia where the monthly unloads show a wide variation, the consumption is. smaller. PRICES OF ICEBERG LETTUCE The most valuable source of price information on Iceberg lettuce is the daily market report of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, which gives jobbing prices in the important markets. In compiling weekly, monthly, and yearly average prices from these reports, an attempt was made to obtain prices on the same quality and sizes of lettuce throughout. This, however, was not entirely possible because (1) the descriptions of the various qualities vary from time to time, and (2) even where the descriptions remain the same for different periods, lettuce described as ''best," for example, may be poorer at one time than at another. In interpreting the price series presented in this circular, therefore, it should be remembered that although the prices are for good quality lettuce, considering the average quality that is being received at the time, the actual quality upon which the prices are given varies from time to time. Chicago Johhing Prices Representative of Those Prevailing in the Eastern Markets. — Jobbing prices at Chicago were selected in making up the main price series on Iceberg lettuce. Daily prices in this market are available over a longer period of years than in the other large markets. In addition, the average prices paid for Iceberg lettuce in Chicago are believed to be generally representative of those pre- vailing in the eastern and midwestern markets. It was found that the weekly average prices in the large markets fluctuate with con- siderable uniformity. Of course, minor fluctuations occur independ- ently in each of the markets because of purely local demand and supply conditions. It is probable, however, that the prices in Chicago are influenced more by the general conditions of demand and supply and less by the local conditions than are the prices in many of the other markets. Chicago is not only the largest market for Iceberg lettuce, but its geographic location makes it particularly easy to move lettuce from the western states into or out of this market, thus bring- ing about a rapid adjustment of price to the general demand and supply conditions. Relation Between Chicago Johhing Prices and Prices F.O.B. Cash Track, Imperial Valley. — California lettuce growers are intensely interested in the price of lettuce on the Eastern markets because the 34 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 Eastern price is the main factor in determining what they will receive for lettuce at their shipping points/^ The relationship which existed between the jobbing prices of California lettuce at Chicago and prices ''f.o.b. cash track" Imperial Valley in 1925 is shown in figure 23. Chicago Jobbing Prices on Good Quality California Lettuce Compared with Prices F.O.B. Cash Track Imperial Valley, 1925 Chicago £ 1 O • o ir> • -4< o CO • «4< • S o Imperial Valley ^ ^. in • lO o • to 10 to o o to Ifi o o o 8 o o C\i CO U5 CO to CO • • rji -* •^ to CO CM CNJ o ir> lO lO o IT) O .^' — ,«^" \ / (lag Chi< TS eck) \ v .-— \ / \ / \ \ ^^^ / > N ^ / \ \ . ?.O.B . Im actHi x1 Vi atUej ■ — -^ A ^ ' — — Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Fig. 23. — The price that country buyers expect to receive for lettuce on the Eastern markets is the main factor in determining the cash price at the growers' shipping points. Data compiled from the daily market reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics issued from the El Centro office. Weekly prices are simple average of daily prices. The Chicago prices are lagged one week, as it takes approximately that length of time for lettuce to be shipped from the Imperial Valley to Chicago. It is apparent that there is a close relationship between 11 It has been estimated that at the present time fully three-fourths of the lettuce in California is sold f.o.b. growers' shipping points, either for ''cash on track," or "usual terms." The balance is sold in a number of different ways: sometimes the field is sold for a designated sum before harvesting, or on the basis of packed-out crates. Some lettuce is consigned direct to com- mission merchants, and some is sold on the delivered basis. 1926] LETTUCE 35 the cash prices that growers received for lettuce and the prices for which the lettuce sold in Chicago. The price which country buyers are willing to pay for lettuce is determined by what they believe the lettuce will bring in the consuming markets. In other words, buyers of lettuce at the shipping points, if they are successful, must be able to forecast with a considerable degree of accuracy the prices which will prevail in the consuming markets at the time the lettuce reaches those markets. The absence of a more perfect relationship between these two price series is caused by several factors. Unexpected changes in the demand or supply situation may cause prices in the consuming markets to change more than the buyers anticipated. The Chicago market, while probably more representative than any other single eastern or midwestern market, may not be at all times repre- sentative of all the large consuming markets. The average differential between the Chicago jobbing prices and prices f.o.b. cash track Imperial Valley during 1925 was $1.65 per crate. The cost of transportation, which amounted to $1.27 per crate, was responsible for the greater part of this differential. The remain- ing 38 cents, which is approximately 10 per cent of the jobbing price, was received by buyers for their services in selling a crate of lettuce to jobbers. To obtain the net price to growers a further deduction must be made, viz., the cost of packing which in 1925 averaged about 75 cents per crate. Thus we find that after deducting the necessary charges growers in the Imperial Valley received an average of $1.55 per packed crate for good quality lettuce in 1925, while the Chicago jobbing prices averaged $3.95 per crate. ^^ Price Characteristics. — A number of the more important character- istics of lettuce prices require a somewhat detailed explanation because of their influence upon the profitableness of growing lettuce. 1. Jobbing prices of lettuce fluctuate widely from day to day and from week to week. In figure 24 it will be noted that the weekly average jobbing prices of California lettuce at Chicago fall rapidly and recover rapidly, and that the high prices are frequently twice as much as the low prices. Because of these wide price fluctuations the risk of growing lettuce is great. The growers who are fortunate 12 Eeaders should bear in mind that the prices which are given in the following pages are jobbing prices at Chicago and that substantial deduction must be made from these prices in order to obtain net prices to growers. Considerable effort was made to obtain prices of California lettuce f.o.b. cash track or f.o.b. usual terms. It was impossible, however, to obtain a complete series that was comparable one period with another and representative for the state over a sufficiently long period. 36 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 enough to have the bulk of their lettuce reach the market when the prices are high make large profits, but on the other hand, if prices are low when their lettuce reaches the market, heavy losses are suffered. Very few small growers are financially able to take the risk of having the bulk of their lettuce fall on a low market. Consequently, they should spread the planting of it over a sufficiently long period so that it will mature at different times, and thus enable them to obtain the average of the high and low prices for the season. By having some lettuce mature each day or week throughout the season, growers can insure themselves against the risk of having the bulk of their lettuce sell at the lowest price. Even the large growers who are financially strong find it advisable to extend their marketing period over as long a time as possible in order to obtain the average price for the year, rather than take the chance of suffering large losses. In addition to having their lettuce in a particular section come on gradually, many of the large growers, by operating in all of the main lettuce-producing sections in California, are able to market lettuce throughout the year. In this way, losses suffered during some periods are offset by high profits obtained during other periods. The chief reason for the increasing importance of the large growers in the lettuce industry in California is their abilit}^ to take the risk involved, due to their financial strength and their practice of operating in such a way as to be able to market lettuce throughout the year.^^ 2. There is no simple definite prevailing relationship between the supply of lettuce and the price at which it will sell. In the absence of a careful analysis, one might assume that the jobbing prices of lettuce in each market would fall as supplies increase and recover as supplies diminish, "but a study of the weekly average prices to jobbers and total carlot unloads of lettuce by weeks in several of the important markets reveals the fact that the correlation between the two over a period of one year is so small as to be almost wholly insignificant."^^ Previous to receiving the bulletin just quoted, the author made a study to determine what relationship existed between (1) the weekly average jobbing price and total cars on track by weeks in Chicago, (2) the weekly average jobbing i3rice and total carlot arrivals by weeks in New York, (3) the weekly average price f .o.b. cash track and total weekly shipments from the Imperial Valley. 13 At the present time close to 80 per cent of the lettuce in California is grown by the large operators. i4Hauck, Charles W., Marketing lettuce. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 1412:31, 1926. 1926] LETTUCE 37 Dollars Per Crate ro oj rf* en ^PL ^' a ^ to 13 I _ ►i Co S.^ CD 2 ^ « rD ^'^ o S9 F^ CB O 3^ gs •-< o H o O 03* (C CO CO p3 TO t? as 2 S" o M g-g 2. ^~ o 1 o S I i > c I I I i ) c ) c I 8 • )5 f - o • - J X - I- • ■ < 1 -•4 i - • _ <{ <. } .J - C - 5 _ ^z ^ f ^ - c • r to w ^5) --J. •?! ^ '^7 - c ^ >*'> ^^^* •s - J - C/ — o • — I ^ > 1 ': * _ ^ ^ ~ 1 .i 4 / - 0) o — • i < 1 > \ CO en It*. > Dollars 4.25 3.50 2.30 4.00 3.46 2.45 3.40 3.60 2.40 2.75 4.10 2.60 3.00 4.40 2.50 2.80 4.50 2.69 w W 2.80 4.80 2.85 3.25 4.45 2,85 «H 3.75 4.00 2.80 O 3.75 4.25 2.50 w 3.60 4.30 2.95 4,00 4. 50 4.15 ^ 4.75 3.80 4.95 w 6.00 3.00 5.15 H 4.25 2.60 5.65 o 4.60 2.80 5,55 ^ 4.90 2.90 5.20 O o 4.75 3,30 5.65 o 4.50 3,30 4.00 ,o 4.60 3,55 3.40 4.50 3,65 3.00 e: 4,00 3,35 3.50 1^ 4,00 3,45 4.16 n 3.60 3,35 3.95 > 1,75 3,50 3.36 •^ 1,25 5,70 2.70 w 2,50 4,00 2.60 ^ 3.80 3.70 4.60 4.40 3.50 5.80 4.40 4.65 5.60 c o 4.00 5.40 5.50 4.50 6.35 3.00 6.25 2.50 5.00 o 2,60 4.70 > 2,90 5.46 2.40 6.00 1— ' CO 2.20 5.25 to 2.25 6.15 1 3.05 5.55 3.90 5.66 Kj 3.35 6.40 ^ 3.80 6.40 CO to 3.70 5.00 Oi 3.76 4.60 3.80 3.66 4.45 2.96 4.75 3.00 5.25 2.86 4.85 3.06 4.65 3.06 4.60 3.20 38 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 The results in each case were the same, viz., almost no significant relationship existed between the two series. In the Chicago market, for example, jobbing prices would sometimes fall as supplies increased, and conversely, prices would sometimes rise as supplies decreased, but at other times prices and supplies would move in the same direc- tion, and at still other times either prices or supplies would change while the other remained stationary. Quoting again from U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 1412, "Manifestly prices are determined by other influences as well as current carlot receipts. Doubtless general business condi- tions, weather, production, current loadings, shipments en route, busi- ness interruptions, and deviations from the normal demand caused by holidays, marked differences in the quality and condition of offer- ings, receipts of locally grown lettuce, etc., all exert some influence on jobbing prices." The influence of quality upon price deserves par- ticular emphasis. Sales managers of large lettuce producing and shipping organizations point out that uniformly poor quality lettuce will ruin a market faster than anything else, even though supplies are very light and all other conditions favorable to heavy consumption. Although it takes a little while for this factor to be felt, it is very consistent and exerts a strong influence. On the other hand, when quality is uniformly good, prices usually hold up well despite heavy receipts and other unfavorable conditions. There is as yet no method available by which California lettuce growers can forecast the prices that will prevail in the Eastern markets sufficiently far in advance to enable them to have their lettuce ready for market at just the time that prices are high. 3. Buyers pay a substantial premium for good quality lettuce. In 1925 the average differential between the jobbing prices of good and poor quality lettuce at Chicago was $2.00 per crate. It is true, of course, that poor quality lettuce frequently brings more when prices are very high than good quality lettuce does when prices are very low, but as yet growers can not forecast three or four months in advance the times during the year when the prices will be high. Consequently it will generally pay them to grow lettuce at only those times when good quality lettuce can be produced. 4. There is no definite seasonal variation in the prices of Iceberg lettuce that tends to be repeated year after year (fig. 25). It is true, of course, that during a given year prices fluctuate considerably, being high at some periods and low at others, but these high and low prices have not been repeated at the same periods year after year. The available data do not indicate that there is any one period during 1926] LETTUCE 39 the year when prices are normally higher than at any other period. The average prices for the different months show only a small varia- tion from each other, and the cluster of the individual monthly prices about the average is not close. Growers who have consistently marketed their lettuce during the same period each year for the past six years have received approximately the same amount of money as they would have received if they had marketed an equal amount of lettuce of similar quality during any other period. Monthly Jobbing Prices of Good Quality Iceberg Lettuce, Chicago, 1923-1925, AND Average 1920-1925 Av. 1920-1925. "^ ^. "^ '^. w to to ■>*< m o o lo 1923 _ o> o> CO CO 1924 1925 O . 6.00 5.00 4,00 -^ S 3.00 1,00 •»! h -"i cv ' f 5 T} •^ * X * J f 3 T f ■«i' 1924. ^ \ / ^ .,/ ./ ^ — / > ^ /••' ^ 'J \ ^ // ^ fe ^ .-^ 1923 \-T^ " A, 19 BO -lO es^ \ A. >2S Fig. 25. — There is no period during the year when lettuce prices are normally higher than at any other period. Data from table 14. The foregoing analysis of the more important characteristics of lettuce prices indicates that it generally pays to grow lettuce in a given section only at those times when good quality lettuce can be produced, and to grow it over as long a period as possible consistent with the production of good quality. An effort to have lettuce mature at just the time when prices are high is usually fruitless because (1) the prices of lettuce can not be forecast with any reasonable degree 40 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 of accuracy sufficiently far in advance, and (2) prices over a period of years have been equally as good at one time of the year as at any other time. Trend of Prices. — Figure 26 shows the yearly average jobbing prices obtained for good quality California lettuce at Chicago during the past six years/^ There has been no apparent upward or downward trend in prices during this period; instead they have remained at approximately the same level, fluctuating but slightly from year to year. The highest average price occurred in 1922, but this price of $4.06 per crate is only 70 cents more than the low price of $3.36 in 1920, and only 34 cents more than the six years average price of $3.72. The 1925 price was $3.88, 16 cents more than the six-year average price. Average Jobbing Price and Purchasing Power of Good Quality California Lettuce at Chicago, 1920-1925 Price to a • u « Purchasing o >«jj Power M 4.60 § ■* CO n to • lO 8. s (0 •-• 5 § Fig. 26. — There appears to have been no tendency for prices to decline during this period despite the rapid increase in production. Yearly average price computed by weighing the monthly jobbing prices at Chicago (table 14) Vjy the monthly carlot shipments from California (table 9). Purchasing power obtained by deflating the yearly average price by the "all commodity index." This index is published in The Agricultural Situation which is issued monthly by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 15 The general trend shown in figure 26 is representative of the trend of average net prices to growers. The actual prices received by growers, however, are substantially less than the Chicago jobbing prices because of the costs of selling, transporting and packing. See footnote at bottom of p. 35. 1926] LETTUCE 41 The continuation of these relatively high prices of Iceberg lettuce during this period, when the prices of many agricultural products have been low, has been, in the main, responsible for the rapid increase in production. The purchasing power of Iceberg lettuce has also continued high. The lettuce grower is able to buy as much of other commodities with the money he receives for a crate of lettuce today as he was 5 years ago (fig. 26). The experience of individual growers has undoubtedly been some- what different from that illustrated in figure 26. Their average prices would coincide with those given here only if their shipments con- tinued throughout the year and in the same proportion each month as was shipped from the state as a whole. Many growers, however, ship lettuce only during a short period each season. If, for example, a grower had marketed his lettuce during March each year for the past six years, he would have received a higher price than the average for the state in 1921, 1922, and 1925, but a lower price in 1920, 1923, and 1924. His average price for the six years, however, would have been approximately the same as that for the state. On the whole, growers who have produced good quality lettuce during any given period each year for the past six years have averaged satisfactory prices. This would indicate that lettuce growing is likely to prove more profitable to those growers who undertake it as a long time proposition than to those who '^jump into it one year and out the next." 42 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 TABLES17 TABLE 5 Commercial Acreage of Head Lettuce, United States, 1918-1925 State 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925* Arizona 300 7,140 270 7,670 520 17,880 630 15,340 1,480 18,140 2,900 24,700 4,800 33,020 4,400 California 49,320 Imperial Valley 7,000 8,340 11,000 7,140 14,130 10,570 18,000 15,020 25,000 Other sections 24,320 Colorado : 140 2,640 190 2,680 730 3,500 80 260 100 980 900 3,060 400 360 100 1,070 6,000 3,140 1.800 370 170 1,380 6,710 3,780 3,150 380 240 1,310 5,600 3,490 1,420 210 180 2,300 250 6,290 1,540 300 70 1,120 760 300 1,400 200 300 10,500 3,400 1,500 80 Florida Idaho Michigan 260 280 60 840 Minnesota 220 New Jersey 760 2,320 1,500 6,520 1,730 300 New Mexico New York 3,480 490 4,220 540 4,690 500 5,120 760 6,000 1,180 500 60 1,750 1,390 120 1,080 210 130 7,150 1,230 500 60 1,980 1,140 200 2,000 250 310 North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania .50 660 590 50 780 560 60 740 1,160 60 1,340 1,020 70 South Carolina 1,480 680 Texas Utah 250 Washington ... 190 220 730 1,080 1,720 110 Virginia 170 220 80 220 300 Total 16,870 18,580 32,010 31,460 44,900 57,990 63,550 86,400 * 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Mimeographed reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (revised esti- mates). Years 1923-1925 published in U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1925, 906. 17 Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 are on pages 26, 28, 30, and 32, respectively. 1926] LETTUCE 43 TABLE 6 Commercial Production of Head Lettuce, United States, 1918-1925 (Thousands of crates;* i.e., 000 omitted) State 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925t Arizona 70 1,864 63 1,910 133 4,613 155 3,649 422 3,178 754 5,584 1,080 6,589 990 9,305 Imperial Valley 1,330 2,319 1,650 1,528 2,614 2,970 3,330 3,259 5,000 Other sections . 4,305 Colorado 36 1,093 45 938 182 1,232 18 28 13 153 243 1,255 100 54 13 174 1,080 1,294 306 46 23 230 973 1,021 435 46 24 210 476 914 192 26 25 610 56 1,113 260 48 5 151 133 80 36 315 52 1,396 Florida 765 Idaho 180 33 50 11 133 10 Minnesota . . 33 129 596 New Mexico . .. 300 New York 588 108 633 125 807 116 983 175 900 266 75 10 296 257 31 24 351 48 1,158 240 69 9 216 226 50 41 560 56 1,265 North Carolina 467 45 7 146 90 7 172 136 8 148 282 12 302 228 11 South Carolina 247 Texas 68 Utah 94 32 48 41 52 16 179 51 405 39 Washington 344 Wyoming 16 Total 4,244 4,316 7,928 7,799 8,837 11,672 12,161 16,171 * Western crates of 4 dozen heads each. t 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Mimeographed reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (revised esti- mates). Years 1923-1925 published in U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1925, 906. 44 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 TABLE 7 Carlot Shipments* of Head Lettuce by State of Origin, 1917-1925 State 1917t 1918t 1919t 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925t 64 2,013 1,116 64 2,051 1 2,352 41 2,731 7 2,134 254 7,358 129 2,940 168 9,850 234 2,267 678 9,744 812 3,310 5 889 14 81 85 1,108 15,113 1,436 3,146 5 1,241 3 208 53 2,049 18,480 1,036 2,257 3 532 8 55 36 3,477 California 21,608 3,061 Florida . 1,510 26 Georgia Idaho 1 36 63 45 18 25 7 110 56 180 1 100 44 407 Louisiana 98 152 24 6 7 Minnesota .. .. 12 Missouri 23 38 14 Montana 1 Nevada 13 New Jersey 215 171 245 208 469 571 456 11 3,817 718 44 168 22 577 417 95 3,698 714 94 127 17 423 469 New Mexico .. . 158 New York 1,423 181 1,334 226 4 1,761 319 52 1,775 207 16 3 23 121 3,240 445 27 25 36 716 3 132 5 154 635 3,167 622 33 129 34 987 3 113 15 119 812 3,819 North Carolina 537 Ohio 70 Oregon 45 Pennsylvania 27 161 3 53 26 375 5 17 8 395 18 South Carohna 700 Tennessee 5 Texas 90 139 102 31 70 1,081 85 7 110 674 121 Utah 8 Virginia 45 103 31 19 55 354 102 Washington 817 Wisconsin 4 Wyoming 11 5 74 1 16 2 26 Others 5 16 22 8 7 Total 5,428 6,959 8.018 13,788 18,738 22,240 29,485 30,935 37,040 * Local truck deliveries and less-than-carlot shipments by freight or express are not included, because these records are not available. It should be borne in mind, however, that in some sections such ship- ments amount to a considerable volume. t Records prior to 1920 are only approximately accurate. 1 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Mimeographed reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (revised figures). Data for the 10 most important lettuce-producing states for the years 1920-1925 published in U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1925, 907. 1926] LETTUCE 45 TABLE 8 Monthly Carlot Shipments of Head Lettuce, United States, 1917-1925 Jan. Iceberg: 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925* Big Boston: 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925* Total :t 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925* 165 271 134 793 1,445 1,342 2,193 2,997 2,716 199 686 633 1,161 875 903 926 810 593 364 957 767 1,954 2,320 2,245 3,119 3,807 3,309 Feb. 159 497 311 1,264 1,404 914 2,111 3,328 2,931 53 627 406 427 556 1,005 625 297 448 212 1,124 717 1,691 1,960 1,919 2,736 3,625 3,379 Mar. 290 715 571 1,586 1,409 1,506 3,340 2,505 4,255 54 452 258 292 868 1,078 759 284 730 344 1,167 829 1,878 2,277 2,584 4,099 2,789 4,985 Apr. 472 162 557 793 1,429 2,303 1,905 2,665 3,228 233 563 533 168 752 864 615 222 743 705 725 1,090 961 2,181 3,167 2,520 2,887 3,971 May 439 194 491 911 906 1,429 1,452 2,027 2,578 235 305 340 239 158 430 563 1,063 329 674 499 831 1,150 1,064 1,859 2,015 3,090 2,907 June 40 43 82 203 384 571 1,240 1,180 1,405 105 49 99 52 285 230 70 80 121 145 92 181 255 669 801 1,310 1,260 1,526 July 2 2 37 179 377 459 748 630 1,090 520 380 358 717 958 1,077 1,484 1,080 1,408 522 382 395 896 1,335 1,536 2,232 1,710 2,498 Aug. 1 9 11 161 382 727 1,087 609 1,712 435 551 684 593 699 1,060 1,406 1,424 1,528 436 560 695 754 1,081 1,787 2,493 2,033 3,240 Sept. 14 14 18 213 422 608 1,105 889 2,087 308 369 635 507 861 695 734 937 322 383 653 720 1,283 1,303 1,839 1,826 2,925 Oct. 75 12 97 247 600 1,003 1,530 1,622 2,526 198 111 261 221 669 500 518 546 206 273 123 358 468 1,269 1,503 2,048 2,168 2,732 Nov. 185 50 249 1,042 1,104 966 1,632 2,397 2,009 281 269 316 389 411 487 653 423 257 319 565 1,431 1,515 1,453 2,285 2,820 2,266 Dec. 236 147 241 731 1,235 1,263 1,920 2,167 3,083 729 481 549 820 869 753 219 965 628 937 1,630 1,784 2,083 2,789 2,920 3,302 Total 2,078 2,116 2,799 8,123 11,097 13,091 20,263 23,016 29,620 3,350 4,843 5,219 5,665 7,641 9,149 9,222 7,919 7,420 5,428 6,959 8,018 13,788 18,738 22,240 29,485 30,935 37,040 * 1925 data are preliminary. t Total of Iceberg and Big Boston. These two types constitute practically all of the head lettuce. Sources of data: Compiled from mimeographed reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (revised figures). TABLE 9 Monthly Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, California, 1917-1925 Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 1917 165 263 132 767 1,436 1,312 1,953 2,256 1,924 159 471 295 1,175 1,386 902 2,043 3,185 2,663 289 685 551 1,473 1,397 1,456 3,227 2,461 4,093 411 162 555 774 1,367 2,014 1,659 2,291 2,502 437 194 491 911 899 1,294 1,410 1,952 2,417 40 43 69 146 281 391 430 839 934 2 2 25 68 233 184 395 380 640 14 14 17 44 131 91 296 280 684 75 12 96 192 393 220 450 1,094 1,831 185 50 249 1,031 1,007 676 1,241 2,065 1,826 236 147 240 723 1,173 1,100 1,502 1,474 1,589 2,013 1918 8 11 54 147 104 507 203 505 2,051 1919 2,731 1920 7,358 1921 9,850 1922 9,744 1923 15,113 1924 18,480 1925* 21,608 * 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Mimeographed reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (revised figures). TABLE 10 Weekly Carlot Shipments of Iceberg Lettuce by State of Origin, 1925* California t Ariz. Colo. Idaho Wash. Others Week ending North- ern District Central District South- ern District Im- perial Valley Total Total Jan. 3 8 20 5 15 11 12 16 8 5 4 4 1 7 5 42 162 251 373 410 469 483 189 162 138 244 282 179 166 124 141 110 136 97 88 110 120 110 83 212 160 392 349 433 413 400 276 231 130 135 81 51 9 31 33 19 10 13 11 7 17 4 7 9 3 4 246 408 386 447 457 552 660 770 601 673 650 962 1,353 1,015 430 53 285 461 410 473 481 575 683 795 610 685 663 968 1,364 1,020 499 357 558 685 736 701 555 204 170 141 244 287 179 166 124 141 110 136 97 88 110 120 110 83 212 160 397 350 440 415 445 406 479 360 441 275 314 307 261 223 199 164 120 110 72 47 39 64 37 30 23 33 68 246 288 114 1 546 10 684 17 609 24 1 637 31 601 Feb. 7 685 14 755 21 842 28 649 Mar. 7 1 749 14 700 21 2 998 28 1,387 Apr. 4 1,053 11 27 138 292 290 306 212 71 16 8 3 567 18 4 15 22 20 20 1 603 25 846 May 2 799 9 750 16 705 23 2 91 106 87 102 110 95 51 34 21 58 32 11 4 9 6 557 30 8 9 9 13 4 3 3 307 June 6 288 13 237 20 2 4 3 361 27 5 3 3 13 28 77 165 218 225 235 292 444 349 217 240 277 127 35 28 14 7 408 July 4 280 11 230 18 186 25 239 Aug. 1 2 1 2 3 4 10 11 10 10 11 52 25 30 21 2 3 335 8 387 15 335 22 330 29 415 Sept. 5 580 12 470 19 310 26 3 4 12 19 64 120 88 49 43 20 21 6 465 Oct. 3 1 6 3 3 2 2 2 4 453 10 2 1 4 1 11 38 98 81 55 21 9 3 594 17 432 24 3 1 34 92 150 149 231 142 96 33 565 31 572 Nov. 7 544 14 460 21 527 28 23 154 383 417 202 404 Dec. 5 20 31 158 265 616 12 4 3 1 668 19 734 26 510 * 1925 data are pr.eliminary. t The Northern District of California includes the territory north of a Hne extending in a general easterly direction from San Francisco Bay; the Central District includes the territory between this line and the Tehachapi Pass; and the Southern District includes the remainder of the state with the excep- tion of the Imperial Valley. The exact boundaries of these four districts may be obtained from the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, San Francisco. Sources of data: Compiled from Weekly Summary of Carlot Shipments (mimeographed), issued weekly by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 1926] LETTUCE 47 TABLE 11 Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, California by Counties, 1920-1925 County 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924* 1925* 2,940 3,991 37 8 278 33 1 1 13 11 45 3,669 5,554 73 18 219 65 2 25 14 153 3 37 18 4,806 168 3,369 154 61 11 185 106 37 38 58 35 133 163 13 304 10 70 23 3 7,994 94 3,454 877 68 56 275 163 59 66 41 37 275 704 105 542 21 57 208 14 76 9,297 84 2,687 1,265 142 15 313 171 214 8 70 280 1,547 385 1,118 13 39 710 46 55 Imperial . ... 10,302 122 Kern Los Angeles 1 709 Monterey 3,581 Orange 80 Riverside 50 Sacramento 381 San Benito 159 San Diego 149 San Francisco . .. 9 33 San Luis Obispo 222 San Mateo 248 Santa Barbara 2,552 Santa Clara 138 Santa Cruz 1,247 Stanislaus 30 Tulare 35 Ventura 388 Others.. . 118 Total . 7,358 9,850 9,744 15,113 18,480 21,608 * 1924 and 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Years 1920-1923, U. S. Dept. Agr. Statistical Bui. 9: 29-33. 1925. Years 1924- 1925. Compiled from the Summary of Carlot Shipments of Important Fruits and Vegetables in Cali- fornia by Homer A. Harris (mimeographed), issued annually from the Los Angeles office of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 48 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 TABLE 12 Monthly Carlot Shipments of Lettuce, California by Counties, 1923-1925 County Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 1923 1,798 7 123 1 1,988 3 48 3,015 8 176 576 45 845 19 24 4 9 1 3 622 142 111 26 12 8 616 16 631 37 72 4 7,994 Kern 12 892 42 65 53 28 20 7 34 20 45 96 96 94 Los Angeles 62 77 6 45 7 187 42 153 3 39 3,454 174 877 Sacramento 275 35 2 47 120 3 70 1 1 163 San Diego 9 1 3 107 102 10 57 59 4 37 San Mateo 100 156 4 63 5 15 13 56 16 34 1 58 23 117 7 7 275 Santa Barbara.. 5 3 1 5 1 4 3 17 41 72 117 23 107 41 28 52 704 Santa Clara 105 Santa Cruz 1 30 13 27 542 Ventura 208 Others . 4 26 14 34 2 326 Total 1,953 2,043 3,227 1,659 1,410 430 395 507 296 450 1,241 1,502 15,113 1924* 2,189 4 47 7 3,183 2,433 3 14 1,127 19 680 3 45 17 763 235 136 51 49 3 280 105 137 198 91 365 22 580 39 95 3 48 9,297 Kern 19 561 218 36 50 37 10 346 85 320 178 92 84 16 211 34 1 78 25 332 1 38 2 20 244 85 303 39 5 2,687 Montrey 108 4 1,265 313 San Benito 1 24 171 7 71 214 San Luis Obispo San Mateo .... 54 256 71 173 24 10 93 135 11 29 51 89 10 17 2 49 46 9 94 2 1 280 Santa Barbara.. 40 111 9 11 89 102 1,547 Santa Clara 385 1 33 180 93 1,118 Ventura 710 Others 1 1 11 409 Total 2,256 3,185 2,461 2,291 1,952 839 380 203 280 1,094 2,065 1,474 18,480 1925* 1,782 29 59 2,583 12 15 4,050 8 8 1,086 19 358 306 36 44 21 8 16 441 722 46 44 76 38 16 360 29 55 350 6 116 2 4 138 32 87 350 136 24 78 246 365 16 22 145 7 129 928 4 55 45 6 426 64 298 5 1 8 445 495 225 16 8 21 800 30 363 131 70 10,302 122 Kern Los Angeles 1,709 3,581 381 Sacramento 159 San Diego 16 11 1 16 9 149 222 San Mateo 248 2 8 144 9 132 186 153 464 31 327 132 80 362 20 156 41 28 55 1 25 4 85 2,552 Santa Clara . 138 Santa Cruz Ventura 8 5 23 3 5 26 6 8 12 26 3 21 1,247 388 Others 410 Total 1,924 2,663 4,093 2,502 2,417 934 640 505 684 1,831 1,826 1,589 21,608 * 1924 and 1925 data are preliminary. Sources of data: Compiled from the Summary of Carlot Shipments of Important Fruits and Vege- tables in CaUfornia by Homer A. Harris (mimeographed), issued annually from the Los Angeles oflBce of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 1926] LETTUCE 49 TABLE 13 Carlot Unloads of Lettuce in 21 Cities, by Months, 1925 City Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May- June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total Atlanta Baltimore Boston Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Denver Detroit Kansas City Los Angeles Minneapolis New York Omaha Philadelphia... Pittsburgh Portland, Ore.. St. Louis St. Paul Salt Lake City San Francisco.. Washington 15 52 105 304 66 78 39 79 46 106 45 446 18 212 86 60 87 19 17 83 29 19 55 77 283 68 70 36 69 50 95 30 605 18 234 88 48 100 22 12 84 36 25 50 126 290 51 85 45 104 58 181 49 836 13 178 108 60 98 26 24 94 42 24 77 157 383 45 101 60 122 52 92 75 939 36 318 168 80 121 34 26 40 47 26 63 105 424 36 90 60 144 31 42 57 754 18 266 118 46 41 34 24 27 36 21 13 37 315 13 71 22 123 23 125 34 130 13 116 55 3 29 11 1 23 15 82 57 350 42 62 37 74 41 191 22 723 12 213 38 1 68 7 46 17 48 91 295 43 54 78 61 37 227 21 1,034 19 222 50 29 78 59 325 46 59 81 67 46 163 37 803 16 223 64 10 96 6 10 1 42 23 46 63 296 40 66 27 69 48 175 32 311 19 144 56 2 62 12 4 4 29 19 48 69 311 48 56 26 35 38 47 31 363 22 138 51 13 79 18 6 21 23 55 75 324 49 73 30 88 53 32 33 540 24 186 93 44 102 18 11 36 33 256 667 1,021 3,900 547 865 541 1,085 523 1,476 466 7,484 228 2,450 974 367 954 213 154 413 424 Sources of data: Compiled from Unloads of Lettuce in Various Markets during 1925, by States of Origin and Months, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, unpublished report, April 22, 1926. TABLE 14 Jobbing Prices of Good Quality Iceberg Lettuce, Chicago, by Months, 1920-JuLY, 1926 (Dollars per crate) Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Average, 1920-1925 3.70 3.45 3.75 4.05 3.70 3.95 3.95 4.10 3.70 4.40 4.00 3.60 1920 3.90 4.20 3.70 3.95 2.45 3.85 3.50 2.20 3.20 5.25 2.90 2.75 4.45 3.15 2.35 3.90 5.70 2.80 3.65 4.15 4.00 5.00 4.80 3.30 2.85 5.45 2.85 4.70 4.00 3.90 2.60 4.55 3.65 3.45 4.45 3.75 4.30 3.45 4,45 3.60 4.00 2.65 3.25 5.20 3.15 3.05 4.65 4.30 3.80 2.80 5.20 3.60 3.80 5.50 3.70 4.20 3.15 3.60 3.25 5.45 2.45 4.80 3.65 4.35 4.50 5.45 3.70 4.20 3.75 4.60 3.65 3.60 4.25 2.70 1921 3.35 1922 4.50 1923 3.15 1924 3 05 1925 4.75 1926 Sources of data: Months, January through May and November through December, 1920-1923; and January, 1924, through July, 1926, compiled from daily market reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics and its predecessors, issued from the Los Angeles, El Centro and San Francisco offices. Months, June through October, 1920-1923, compiled from Chicago Daily Fruit and Vegetable Reporter (files obtained from the Stewart Fruit Company, San Francisco). Monthly prices are simple average of daily prices of good quality lettuce. Prices are for Cahfornia lettuce, with the following exceptions: Washington lettuce, June through October, 1920-1922; and July and August, 1923; Colorado lettuce, September and October, 1923. 50 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE [CiRC. 5 SOURCES OF CURRENT INFORMATION ON LETTUCE Growers interested in following the current developments in the lettuce industry will find the following government publications of value : 1. Daily market reports of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics issued from the local offices at El Centro, Los Angeles and San Fran- cisco give carlot shipments made each day from the producing sec- tions; the destinations, diversions, arrivals and supplies on the main markets ; the quality and condition of receipts ; and prices paid at terminal markets and at points of origin. These reports are distri- buted free by mail upon request. 2. Crops and Markets, published weekly by the United States Department of Agriculture, contains from time to time important information concerning the lettuce crop and markets. In addition to news articles, the United States lettuce shipments for the current week, for the previous week, and for the corresponding week last year, together with the total shipments for the current season to date and the total shipments for last season are published regularly. The monthly carlot shipments by states of origin for the current month and the corresponding month in previous years are published regularly in the Monthly Supplement to Crops and Markets. Crops and Markets may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C, at a cost of $1 per year. 3. Estimates of acreage, production, yield per acre, average price paid to growers, and farm value, by states, for a number of years, are published in the U. S. Department of Agriculture Yearbook which is issued annually. The latest year's figures appearing in the Year- book are preliminary and may be revised in the following Yearbook. The revised figures together with the next year's shipments are gen- erally published in the Monthly Supplement to Crops and Markets some time before the new Yearbook is out. For example, the revised estimates for 1924 and the preliminary estimates for 1925 were pub- lished in the Monthly Supplement to Crops and Markets, December, 1925, p. 397. 4. A summary of the Imperial Valley Deal is prepared annually by the local representative of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, El Centro, California. Summaries of the deals in other states are 1926] LETTUCE 51 also issued by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. These sum- maries may be obtained from the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Washington, D. C. 5. Carlot shipments of lettuce from California by shipping points and by months are compiled annually by the local representative of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Los Angeles. These reports may be obtained from the Los Angeles Office of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 6. Truck Crop Notes issued from time to time by the California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service gives information regarding acreage, production, etc., in the main lettuce-producing sections in California. 15j71-12,'26