Fruit Market Possibilities in the 

 Export Trade. 



A, W. OTIS. 



The subject assigned to me — " Fruit Market Possibilities in 

 the Export Trade " — is a very broad one, and is open to 

 consideration in many different ways. 



The first word, "Fruit," is a general term, and the word, 

 " Export," has to do with the marketing field anywhere outside 

 the United States. We know the United States is a very 

 large and important part of the world at the present time, 

 at least, but when it comes to consideration of fruit market 

 possibilities there are some very important markets outside 

 our own country. 



Apple Exports. 



Apples have been shipped from the United States to Europe 

 for approximately sixty years. My own experience dates 

 back to 1880, and while considerable quantities had been 

 shipped prior to that time, the season of 1880-81 was the 

 beginning of a very important branch of the apple business. 

 The exports that season were, in round numbers, 1,300,000 

 barrels. The quantities have varied from season to season 

 according to conditions, — some seasons being about the same 

 as • 1880, and others much lighter, — but the next really im- 

 portant season was that of 1896-97, when nearly 3,000,000 

 barrels were shipped. I say "important," not because of the 

 really satisfactory financial results for those in the business, 

 — as for many it was disastrous, — but for what it did for 

 the apple growers in opening up new markets. 



The crop was enormous in growing districts. Growers 

 hardly knew what to do with their fruit, and some wished 

 they had let it rot on the ground. 



