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Abstract
Price analysis was used to determine if the behavior of weekly tomato prices at shipping points and wholesale terminal markets is generally consistent with a competitive marketing system. Results indicated that the winter tomato market in 1966-68 performed in an orderly and competitive manner. Prices were established at different locations that were consistent with marketing costs--transportation, storage, and handling. Prices at all locations in the marketing system were closely correlated. Margins were related to the distance transported and the price of the commodity. Shipping-point prices of tomatoes were inversely related to the supply of produce available. Wholesale terminal market prices directly responded to shifts in shipping-point prices. The marketing system for fresh tomatoes generally performed efficiently in establishing prices that cleared the supply of perishable produce each day and week of the marketing season.