0001-coldstorage-SSB

1 Supporting Statement – Part B

COLD STORAGE

OMB No. 0535-0001

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The potential reporting universe for the Refrigerated Storage Capacity Survey is defined as all warehouses artificially cooled to a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower where food products are placed and held for 30 days or more. Included in the universe are specialized storage facilities meeting the 30 day requirement such as fruit houses, dairy manufacturing plants, frozen fruit and vegetable processors, and poultry and meat packing plants. Excluded are stocks in refrigerated space maintained by wholesalers, jobbers, distributors, and chain stores; locker plants containing individual lockers; meat packer branch houses; and frozen food processors whose inventories are turned over more than once a month. The universe also includes those operations that have facilities that have the potential for storing food items but are currently idle or used to store non-food items.

Of the approximately 1,600 operations contacted every odd year for the Refrigerated Storage Capacity Survey, those that store items of interest (including dairy products, nuts, frozen fruit and concentrated juice, frozen vegetables, frozen eggs, frozen poultry, and frozen meat) are selected to be included in the monthly Cold Storage Survey. Recent sample sizes and response rates for the two surveys can be found in the Response Rates table below:

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• estimation procedure,

• degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures

The Refrigerated Storage Capacity Survey is a census of all known operations in the target population (as defined in Part 1, above). Data from the survey is used to estimate the total number of facilities and the amount of refrigerated and freezer space at state and national levels, as well as to screen operations for inclusion in the monthly Cold Storage Survey. The monthly Cold Storage Survey is a census of those operations in the Refrigerated Storage Capacity Survey that store the items of interest listed in Part 1, above. Data from the survey is used to estimate amounts in storage for approximately 100 frozen food items.

All plants are accounted for each month. Estimates for non-reporting firms are obtained by multiplying the previous month's figure by a percent change from the previous month. The percent change is calculated for each item from totals of the current and previous month summed from firms that reported both months. Data for reporting firms are added to estimates for non-reporting firms to obtain totals. Reports received after the preliminary estimates have been published are used to revise the preliminary estimates, and revisions are included in the following month's summary.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling. a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Twelve Regional Field Offices maintain and update a list of all cold storage warehouses in their region. With all of the large quantity or specialty items accounted for each month, the report provides a reliable summary of cold storage inventories of food products.

NASS personnel, including the Cold Storage Commodity and Survey Statistician and senior NASS management, attend the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This annual event provides the opportunity to meet with cold storage industry executives and discuss cooperation on the cold storage survey.

Respondents have multiple options for reporting, including by mail, internet, email, or telephone interview. Data collection is timed to coincide with the availability of most respondents' monthly inventory reports and the questionnaires have been designed to minimize the effort required to transfer data from typical inventory reports. NASS also accepts data from respondents in spreadsheet or text formats that differ from the questionnaire’s layout. In addition, NASS uses a "missing reports" program to identify non-responding large or specialty storage facilities to target for telephone follow-up.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.

No testing is done.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Sampling is done by the Sampling, Editing, and Imputation Methodology Branch. Branch Chief is Mark Apodaca, (202)720-6201.

Data collection is carried out by NASS Regional Field Offices. The Director for Western Field Operations is Kevin Barnes, (202)-720-8220. The Director for Eastern Field Operations is Jay Johnson, (202)-720-3638.

The Survey Administrator responsible for coordination of questionnaire design, sampling, data collection, training, and Field Office support is Alissa Cowell-Mytar, (202)720-4751.

February 2016

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