HARVESTING AND MARKETING THE SMALL FRUIT CROP. ^47 



HARVESTING AND MARKETING THE SMALL FRUIT 



CROP. 



ALFRED O. HAWKINS, EXCELSIOR, 



This subject I consider a very important one. My experience in 

 marketing small fruit for a number of years was on the Minneap- 

 olis market. The last three years it has been handled by the Ex- 

 celsior Fruit Growers' Association. 



This business must have careful attention. It is necessary to 

 have plenty of nice, clean packages ready for use before the fruit is 

 ready to pick. Never use old or second-hand packages, whether 

 boxes, crates or baskets. When possible employ grown people for 

 pickers and make a contract with them to remain during the pick- 

 ing season, with the understanding that they will be paid 75 per 

 cent each week and the balance at the close of picking season, but 

 if they do not remain they forfeit the 25 per cent. This is a neces- 

 sary protection for the grower. 



In the beginning the pickers should have instructions to handle 

 the fruit without bruising, to pick clean, throw away overripe ber- 

 ries and fill the package up properly. When boxes are used each 

 picker is supplied with a carrier. W'hen the carriers are filled and 

 brought to the packing shed, the one in charge receives the boxes, 

 notes the appearance and places them in the bottom of the crate to 

 cool ofif if in the forenoon, filling in the balance of the crate in the 

 afternoon. Berries will lose their freshness and mold very quickly 

 if picked when wet. The dew should be allowed to dry ofif thor- 

 oughly before picking starts in the morning. 



Each grower must determine for himself which would be the 

 most successful way to market his crop. The consumer must be 

 reached in the most effective manner possible. Where small fruit 

 is not grown on a large scale it may be most profitable to retail to 

 private customers. Where acres of each variety are grown, the 

 grower will be compelled to sell to grocerymen, keepers of fruit 

 stands, on the market, to commission men, etc. In the vicinity of 

 Lake Minnetonka we market our fruit most successfully through 

 the fruit growers' association. 



Much fruit goes to waste each year by not having enough pick- 

 ers to handle the crop at all times, by improper picking and by care- 

 less handling. In conclusion, I wish to sav, it matters not so much 

 what we do in life but how we perform what we undertake. 



Mr. Preston McCulley: What price did your berries average? 



Mr. Hawkins : I can't tell you that. 



Mr. A. Brackett: We picked a trifle over 11.000 quarts, for 

 which we received something more than $600. 



