AUCTION HOUSES AS DISTRIBUTORS OF FRUITS 

 AND VEGETABLES 



VICTOR K. MCELHENY, JR., 



I 'resident of The Fruit Auction Company, New York City, and of the Ameri- 

 can Fruit and Produce Auction Association 



PUBLIC. 1 ATTENTION CENTERED ON THE AUCTION SYSTEM 



Iii recent years a tremendous impulse 

 has been given in all lines of business to 

 the adoption of efficient up-to-date 

 methods. Growers and shippers have 

 made great strides in growing and in 

 packing. Crops, as well as population, 

 are increasing. The problem is so to 

 increase distribution as to market these 

 crops satisfactorily. This important 

 marketing problem has centered attention 

 upon the public sale system of selling fruits and vegetables. 



PREJUDICE DIES HARD 



Whenever the word " auction " has appeared, it has suggested 

 a red nag a man standing on a counter or chair, calling loudly, 

 and knocking down under the hammer whatever by way of rubbish 

 happens to be at hand. With regard to the public sales of fruit 

 as conducted by the largo auction companies, the picture is so en- 

 tirely different that it is hard to make a comparison. 



HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS 



In this country, public sales of fruit and vegetables are young 

 compared with the business abroad. In England, Germany, and 

 France public sales of fruits and vegetables are tremendously 

 important and are becoming increasingly so. Public sale has been 

 in practice abroad for one hundred years; all varieties of fruits 

 and vegetables are there sold at public auction, also plants and cut 

 flowers. The importance of public sales in Great Britain will be 

 emphasized when it is stated that during the past year England 



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