Specific Marketinx Problems 55 



all its business, and, strictly speaking, the plan of dividing the associa- 

 tion into sections was not in effect in 1917. 



The business operations of the association are conducted through 

 a Secretary-Treasurer, an executive committee of five members, an 

 acreage committee, a crate committee and a seed committee. In the 

 past the Secretary-Treasurer has been the chief business officer of the 

 association. The acreage committee inspects land which it is proposed 

 to plant and is expected to act in an advisory capacity toward the 

 growers. The crate committee is charged with the duty of arranging 

 for containers for shipment of the crop. The seed committee confines 

 its attention to arranging for a suitable supply of seed and the execu- 

 tive committee, of which the Secretary-Treasurer is 1 member, main- 

 tains a general oversight of the business and during the shipping sea- 

 son allots consignments to the various produce houses with whom 

 connections have been established. The Secretary-Treasurer is the 

 only salaried member connected with the association. In 1917 an in- 

 spector was employed by the association to supervise harvesting, pack- 

 ing and loading. 



The small quantity of lettuce sold in Arizona and New Mexico is 

 shipped in express lots and sold f. o. b. Glendale. Practically all of 

 the lettuce shipped locally is sold on standing order and statements are 

 made on a weekly or monthly basis, according to preliminary arrange- 

 ments. The great bulk of the crop moves to the Eastern markets in 

 carloads and is handled entirely on a consignment basis. Reliable com- 

 mission firms are selected in several of the principal markets. The 

 regular commission of 10 per cent is paid to these representatives. In 

 1917 the association was represented by firms in Kansas City, Cleve- 

 land, Indianapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York. The associa- 

 tion has definitely decided that it will not sell on an f. o. b. basis sub- 

 ject to inspection on arrival at destination. Careful inspection, both 

 in field and at the loading platforms, was in practice in 1917, and no 

 lettuce was shipped which was not of superior quality, and well graded 

 and packed. 



A two-tier ventilated crate peculiar to this district has been used 

 with considerable success. This crate is paper-lined and contains from 

 24 to 40 heads. Early shipments in 191 7 were pre-cooled in a small pre- 

 cooling plant and were then loaded into iced cars and rolled to market 

 at once. With the advent of warm weather during the middle and 

 latter part of the season, however, it was found desirable to pack the 

 lettuce with cracked ice between the two layers in each crate. In addi- 



