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Adjustments in the Optimum Number, Size and Location of Tablestock Potato Packing Plants in Maine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

F. Richard King*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maine at Orono
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Extract

The results of a study to determine the optimum number, size and location of potato packing plants in Maine were recently published. These results indicated that economic efficiency of the industry as a whole could be improved with a movement toward fewer and larger plants since aggregate costs of the three marketing functions—assembly, packing, and distribution to consumption centers—could be reduced. In addition to the economic efficiencies involved, the large plant is better able to respond to orders from buyers desiring a uniform and high quality pack in large volume. A small grower-packer, handling only his own potatoes, may not have the volume of potatoes necessary to offer a particular type of pack with any continuity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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References

(1) King, F. Richard and Grant, Winston W.1970 Survey of Maine Potato Growers,” Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maine at Orono, ARE 187, June 1971.Google Scholar
(2) King, F. Richard, Winston, W. Grant and Edward, S. Micka, “Optimum Number, Size and Location of Tablestock Potato Packing Plants in Maine,” LSA Experiment Station, University of Maine at Orono, Bulletin 697, Sept. 1972.Google Scholar