Annual Report - 6 - 



Most of the apples exported were handled by "containerization" 

 vessels this year as they were last year. By this method the 

 trailer itself is lifted off the truck; chassis onto a specially 

 designed "boat and becomes the container on the vessel. It is then 

 put onto another chassis at the foreign port and so arrives at its 

 destination with practically no handling of the fruit. This results 

 in the final consumer getting a better and more useful product. 



This year, the Port of Boston was used for the containerization 

 shipment of apples, using the huge Castle Island's crane. The use 

 of this excellent port has saved shippers the extra cost of ship- 

 ment of this perishable cargo to New York. 



Inspection service was provided this year to Beechnut Apple 

 Processing in Worcester. The division hired a seasonal inspector 

 to work for approximately 5 months. A weekly contract of $225.00 

 per week was paid to the Commonwealth for this service v/hich was 

 again self-supporting. The service was of great importance to the 

 grov/er in that a disinterested third party made the apple inspec- 

 tion on delivered lots. The inspection findings resulted in correct 

 payment to the grower for his particular grade of fruit. 



Potato inspections decreased slightly over last year due to a 

 lighter crop. 



Since agricultural crop yields are subject to the whims of 

 Nature, it is often difficult to determine in advance just where 

 our inspection services will be needed in an upcoming season, but 

 by careful attention to crop estimates, weather conditions and 

 other technical data, the Division has been able to cover all in- 

 spections with a minimum of delay to shippers and receivers even 

 though the inspection service is badly undermanned. 



