Summaries of Produce Auction Quantities and Prices Available Soon
Author(s): Savannah Columbia
Published: July 28th, 2023
Shareable PDF
The produce auction is a marketing channel for growers producing fruit and vegetable crops, nursery crops, and ornamentals. There are several produce auctions located throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and other bordering states. The produce auction serves growers as a market to sell large quantity crops while it serves buyers or consumers as a place to purchase bulk fresh, local products. Some of these auctions gross millions of dollars in sales each year and play an important role in our region’s specialty crop market.
The forthcoming report Three-Year Average Prices & Quantities at Kentucky Produce Auctions: 2020-2022, compares average volumes and prices for 16 crops (listed under Crops & Units) from two major Kentucky produce auctions for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. While there are six produce auctions in Kentucky, the two largest auctions were selected for analysis. We have provided some data on two crops of economic importance at Auctions: Cantaloupes and Tomatoes.
Notes on Cantaloupe
Season Length: June – October
In this 3-year period, Fairview and Lincoln County follow a similar pattern as our last 3-year report – large volume coming through the market in weeks 28-31 with a gentle downward slope as we move into fall. Prices remain strong for melons as Kentucky becomes a larger melon-growing region.
Pack Size: Cantaloupe are sold individually, but they are packed in groups of 10 into 24” bins. Growers should fill the bin to a stackable level and specify variety on the bin label.
Notes on Tomatoes
Season Length: May – November/December. Fairview’s season is almost all year round.
The peak season is late July – August, accompanied by < $1/lb. prices. High prices are seen for early-season products with some uptick as supply drops. #1 and #2 grade tomatoes bring higher $/lb. compared to small and canner tomatoes, even in the low-price points.
Pack Size: Tomatoes are packed in 20 lb. tomato boxes. The box must contain 20 lb. of net weight. Grade according to:
#1: nearly flawless
#2: slightly flawed but no open cracks
Figure 1: Fairview, Tomatoes #1&2 Grade
Figure 2: Lincoln County, Tomatoes #1&2 Grade
Figure 3: Combined Tomatoes #1&2 Grade
Figure 4: Lincoln County, Cantaloupe
Figure 5: Fairview, Cantaloupe
Figure 6: Combined
Recommended Citation Format:
Columbia, S. "Summaries of Produce Auction Quantities and Prices Available Soon." Economic and Policy Update (23):7, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, July 28, 2023.
Author(s) Contact Information:
Savannah Columbia | Center for Crop Diversification Extension Associate | savannah.columbia@uky.edu
Recent Extension Articles
Dairy Margin Coverage Provides Some Help in Challenging Milk Market
Kenny Burdine
Dairy producers continue to struggle with decreasing farm-level milk prices and high feed costs. For the first five months of 2023, the US All Milk price averaged $21.16 per cwt, which was more than $4 per cwt lower than the first five months of 2022. Every operation should consider all available tools when putting together their risk management plan, but it’s hard to imagine that DMC-Dairy would not be one of the tools in their risk management toolbox.
An INFORMATION System
Steve Isaacs
Recordkeeping is often too narrowly defined and restricted to the financial side of the business. Have to file taxes, have to get loans. Both require some of the same information. The financial records are important for sure. However, they are only one of three overlapping information subsystems needed to manage the business effectively. Rather than thinking of “records” or “recordkeeping,” let’s think about “information systems” and financial is just one of them.
Subscribe to our monthly Economic & Policy Update e-newsletter to receive our top articles straight to your inbox.
Connect with Us
