THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE 

 Vol. V. April, 1916. No. 4 



THE ACT RELATING TO THE STANDARDIZATION OF 



FRUIT PACKING. 



By Geo. P. "Weldon. 



The necessity for standardization of fruit packing received timely 

 recognition by the last legislature, and at the hands of the Governor, 

 who signed two bills which went into effect on August 9, 1915, viz, the 

 Apple Standardization Act and the Fruit Standardization Act. The 

 former was given a thorough trial at Watsonville last season and proved 

 to be a worthy measure, as it brought a premium of at least 10 cents per 

 box to those who packed according to its provisions. The latter act 

 went into effect after apricots, peaches, cherries, plums and a large 

 part of the pears and berries were packed, consequently its value in 

 the case of these fruits was not tested. In the case of grapes results 

 were highly gratifying, and the table grape growers can testify to its 

 efficiency because of an increase in prices beyond all expectations, and 

 the best season that these growers have experienced for some time. 



Because of the fact that all fruits included in this act will be packed 

 as specified, during the coming season, the law in full is being printed 

 herewith, so that as many fruit growers as possible may become familiar 

 with its provisions. 



The enforcement of the fruit standardization laAv is in the hands of 

 the county horticultural commissioners in counties where these officials 

 are hired, and fruit inspectors are appointed by the supervisors upon 

 petition of twenty-five bona fide resident fruit growers in counties 

 having no horticultural commissioner. As the purpose of the law is to 

 benefit the growers directly, there should be little trouble in its enforce- 

 ment, and the horticultural commissioners and inspectors should have 

 the united support of every one interested in the permanent betterment 

 of the fruit industry. 



The absolute impossibility of inspectors examining every packed box 

 of fruit is apparent to all, and no matter how conscientious and 

 capable these officials may be, the greatest good can be accomplished 

 only when the fruit growers, packers and shippers themselves are in 

 sympathy with the work and are willing to co-operate with the inspec- 

 tors in making their packages of fruit conform to the specifications. It 

 was this co-operation of growers, packers and shippers with county 

 horticultural commissioners in San Joaquin, Fresno, Sacramento and 

 other counties growing tal)le grapes, that made efficiency possible last 

 season in the case of standardized packing of grapes, which resulted 

 in splendid prices. 



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