14 P.D. 123 



This report also includes a New England Crop summary and statistics on 

 United States for crops of a similar nature to those raised here. 



Grape Survey of Worcester County 



A group of grape growers in Worcester County requested that a survey be 

 made on grapes grown and sold in this county. 



Growers and dealers were visited and such information as the following was 

 collected: Methods of sales, volume of sales, types of containers used, and prices 

 at which the product sold. In addition, the product was given a thorough in- 

 spection wherever possible in order to determine the variety, amount of color, 

 sweetness, maturity, condition of the fruit, percentage of shattering, of disease 

 and of insect injury. 



Fourteen farms were visited at which seven varieties were inspected, namely, 

 Worden, Concord, Brighton, Moores Early, Niagara and Lucile. In most in- 

 stances the retail package was the Mississippi till. This is a two-quart basket 

 holding from 3-33^ pounds of grapes. The wholesale package was a specially 

 devised tray holding 5 till baskets. The weight of the bimches varied from one 

 to eight ounces and the number in a package from 11-30. The sales were mostly 

 retail {5314%) and the balance wholesale (46V^%). Of the retail sales, 25l^% 

 were at the farm and 19% on a retail route. Wholesale sales were largely on the 

 commission basis, 31J/2% going by this method. The balance was sold in the city 

 and to local stores. The detailed information on quality was gathered for the 

 purpose of using it as a basis for state grades. Further information, however, 

 might be necessary before grades are established. 



Experiments were made with cellophane, a transparent paper-like covering which 

 makes a sanitary package. Baskets so covered sold before baskets without a cover, 

 thus making the practice favored by dealers because quick movement is desirable. 

 Peddlers particularly were in favor of the cellophane since it protects the paper 

 against dust. Dealers preferred the Mississippi till basket to those with wire 

 handles. The five basket tray was also desirable. 



Direct Marketing of Farm Products 

 With the large and concentrated population in Massachusetts, farmers have 

 more opportunity to deal directly with consumers than in most other parts of the 

 country. 



In answer to a request for information on this work the division collected infor- 

 mation on successful examples of direct marketing practiced in this state. 



The report includes a definition of direct marketing, the statement that certain 

 products which are of superior quality and those which are at their best when 

 only a few hours old have been sold successfully by the direct marketing method. 

 There are several t\'pes of direct marketing reported, such as selling at Roadside 

 Markets, using Mail Order Routes, Local Delivery Routes and open air markets. 



Retail Buying Habits 



In the late summer and fall a survey of more than 200 retail stores has been 

 conducted to find out where and how these stores buy their fruits and vegetables. 

 Organizations co-operating in this study include, besides the Division of Markets, 

 the New England Research Council, the Middlesex County Extension Service 

 and the Department of Economics at Tufts College. 



One of the objects of the survey is to find out where retailers buy their supplies, 

 how much they patronize the farmers' market, to what extent they buy in the 

 Faneuil Hall District, and whether they go daily to the South Boston Terminal 

 or the fruit auction. 



A preliminary report has already been submitted that shows about 90% of 

 the stores located in the suburban area buy in the Faneuil Hall market. Outlying 

 sections, or those about forty miles from Boston, depend largely on traveling or 

 jobbers' trucks, who buy both from local farmers and from the South Boston 

 Terminal. 



About one-half of the buyers coming to Faneuil Hall market from all sections 

 buy some supplies in the farmers' market. 



In fact most nearby stores prefer to buy from farmers in the market to buying 

 direct "at the farm" or at their store door from farmers. 



