THE PREPARATION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR MARKET. 



S. B. SHAW. 



Practically half the profits in fruit and vegetable growing depends 

 upon the condition in which these products reach the consumer. An 

 observation of the markets in any of our cities will show that there is 

 room for great improvement in the preparation of fruit and vegetables 

 for market. On every side can be seen farm produce selling at reduced 

 prices or else cast aside by the dealers as not worth handling, owing to 

 the damaged or unattractive condition in which it has arrived. The 

 average buyer is attracted by the appearance rather than by the quality 

 of the goods. This is true in all mercantile branches of trade, and par- 

 ticularly so where the products of the garden, farm and orchard are 

 involved. The man who would dispose of his commodities profitably 

 must study the demands of his market and cater to the whims and 

 fancies of the trade. 



There are two kinds of markets on which the grower can dispose of 

 his produce : the local or home market, and the distant or wholesale 

 market. Those who can sell on the former have advantages over those 

 selling on the latter. The local market affords the grower an oppor- 

 tunity of coming face to face with the consumers and learning their 

 preferences. These preferences create a demand for a greater variety of 

 good fresh fruits and vegetables. 



The grower is also enabled to place his produce on this market in a 

 more attractive condition than he can when shipping some distance. 

 Another advantage is the chance the grower has of using his packages 

 an indefinite number of times. "With the probable exception of small 

 fruits and berries, "gift packages" are not required. There are also no 

 transportation or commission charges to be paid. These charges fre- 

 quently absorb all revenue derived from the sale of produce sent to dis- 

 tant markets, thus leaving the grower nothing for his seed, labor and 

 packages. However, this seldom, if ever, happens unless brought about 

 by careless and indifferent preparation. 



Every fruit and vegetable grower is not so fortunately located as to 

 have the advantages of a good local market. His produce must go to 

 some distant market, there competing with the products from other sec- 

 tions and sometimes foreign countries. This competition is gradually 

 increasing, and only the better grades of produce pay for packages, trans- 

 portation and commissions and leave a margin of profit for the grower. 

 In order to furnish the better grades of produce for this competition, 

 growers must be particularly careful in the preparation of their goods 

 for market. The more care given a crop at the home end results in 

 greater profits at the market end. 



Each of the various products of the garden and orchard has. to a 

 certain extent, its own particular characteristics, necessitating a differ- 

 ent method of handling for different markets. There are, however, sev- 



