This report describes and analyzes the organization and marketing practices of 13 selected terminal wholesale markets for flowers in the United States. Personal interviews were conducted with personnel in 136 wholesale flower firms in the markets studied. In 1970, sales of the 136 wholesale firms exceeded $106 million. The largest market was New York, with sales of over $25 million. Sales by type of flower and type of customer are analyzed, as are pricing policies, credit, terms of sale, and other services. The role of transportation in moving flowers from distant shipping-point markets to the large population centers is also noted. Sales of flowers through terminal wholesale markets are increasing despite a decline in number of firms and an apparent disinterest on the part of traditional wholesale florists in the expanding mass market outlets, such as grocery chains and other nonflorist businesses.
