Re: [MATHEDCC] the "potato salad problem" -- reality check

GOETZB@BAYDENOC.CC.MI.US
Wed, 09 Apr 1997 15:30:06 -0400 (EDT)

On Wed, 9 Apr 1997, Laura Petersen wrote:
As a matter of practicality, how much money do you suppose supermarkets
are making off of all those little water droplets sticking to our
lettuce/green onions or whatever. At 8 pounds a gallon, it seems that
the product with the highest profit margin in the veggie section is
probably water. This, of course, is in addition to the savings due to
decreased spoilage. Suddenly, hdyration is a very relevant problem for
grocery store manager!

Brian Goetz
-Bay de Noc Community College

> Perhaps the potato salad problem is not realistic but the problem of
> dehydration certainly is. Pricing of produce per pound is done to provide a
> profit margin that will account for spoilage and for loss of water
> weight. This is a particularly significant problem for oranges which are
> normally not kept in the "shower" section of the produce department. What
> I have heard is that most produce managers have a chart that they use to
> calculate the retail price depending on a number of factors for their
> individual store but I haven't had a chance yet to verify that or find
> the chart and figure out the math underneath it.
>
> --Laura
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Laura Bracken Petersen petersen@lcsc.edu
>
> Division of Natural Sciences PHONE 208-799-2484
> Lewis-Clark State College FAX 208-799-2064
> 500 8th Avenue
> Lewiston ID 83501-2698 USA
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
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