MARKETS AND EUEAL ORGANIZATION. 375 



MARKET GRADES AND STANDARDS. 



The work under this project has been developed toward its recog- 

 nized object — to encourage and educate growers and shippers prop- 

 erly to prepare their products for markets and to show them the 

 vital need of fixed grades and standards for universal use, with a 

 view to ultimate national standardization of market grades, weights, 

 measures, and packages or containers. To this end the following 

 lines of work have been prosecuted : 



GRADING, PACKING, AND HANDLING INVESTIGATIONS. 



During the year special attention was given the study of the 

 various methods used at present in the different States in picking, 

 grading, pacldng, and handling a number of perishable crops, es- 

 pecially cantaloupes, strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and potatoes. 

 The field investigations connected with these crops were pursued in 

 20 States. These studies were not completed during the fiscal year 

 1915, but will be continued during the year 1916 and extended to 

 other crops. A special study was made in the States of Florida, 

 Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi of the problems which growers 

 and shippers of the Southern States must meet in the marketing of 

 their diversified crops. This problem appears to be largely a ques- 

 tion of proper grading and preparation to meet the requirements of 

 their markets. 



STUDY OF PACKAGES OR CONTAINERS FOE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



The investigations of the handling of various crops include the 

 study of the packages and containers used. It is found that in con- 

 nection with almost every commodity a very large number of types, 

 shapes, and sizes of containers are in use in the various States. It 

 is believed not only that many of these types are unnecessary and 

 undesirable, but that the standardization of types and sizes is greatly 

 needed. Data are being secured from the several hundred factories 

 which make fruit and truck packages concerning the types, specifi- 

 cations, capacity, and cost of these containers. This informtion is 

 available for use in connection with the legislation which growers, 

 shippers, dealers, and package manufacturers are working for look- 

 ing toward the standardization of fruit and truck packages. The 

 office collection of these containers for examination, testing, and 

 demonstration, now amounting to over 200 different types and sizes, 

 is gi'owing constantly. 



MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES. 



Large shippers' and growers' cooperative marketing associations 

 were asked to furnish this office with reports of the standards of 

 quality, type, and capacity of packages, grading rules, methods and 

 systems of inspection, and labels used by them. This information, 

 contained in over 400 replies, has been classified, indexed, and filed, 

 and in connection with the other material and data collected, is prov- 

 ing of great value. 



