This year over 80 growers have sold on the market and numerous buyers have come from all over western Kentucky and Tennessee. Buyers are typically there looking for larger lots for wholesale distribution and roadside markets, but smaller lots are typically available. Auctions make for interesting viewing and can quickly teach important lessons about the economics of quality and appearance as well as the laws of supply and demand. Growers that take extra care to grade and package to present a quality product on the auction are rewarded with considerable buyer interest and better prices. Cash returns to the extra effort are viewed by all and growers can consider the benefits of bringing a better quality product as they prepare for the next week.
Cantaloupes tend to come to the market all together and have been a big item the last several weeks.
Buyers at the auction have greater selection and realize they don't need to bid as high to get all the cantaloupe they need. Of course, the more buyers that are at the auction, the more competitive the bidding can become and the better the prices obtained by the growers. This radio session was taped in September 1997 by Tim Woods . This page takes advantage of advanced HTML features found in Netscape ver. 1.22 and later.