THE COST CF A BOX OF APPLES 



A series of three fruit growers' cost analysis meetings was held at Flerra's 

 packing shed and storage in West Acton on the evening of February 20, March 15 

 and March 29. GrovTers ' figures Y/ere used to nake up a composite cost sheet on the 

 basis of price per bushel of top grade apples. Yields were based on the total 

 -with ciders and B grades ondtted and used as a ciishion to make the paper figures 

 more realistic. The figures presented here are not guaranteed, as they are composite, 

 but they are accurate enough for a grower's comparisons in analyzing his own costs. 

 They should give the consuming public a somewhat surprising picture of the cost of 

 processing a box of apples completely through to the viholesaler. 



The total gross cost per packed box of apples is $2,U9. This includes product- 

 ion, picking, handling into storage, grading, containers, storage, various sell- 

 ing charges, etc. It also includes such overhead iteias as shrinkage, depreciation, 

 taxes, etc. The production costs, i.e., putting the ripe apple on the tree ready 

 for picking, was averaged at 66^, with the most expensive block being $1,0$, It 

 is readily seen that the much-lamented production cost is only a little over 2^% 

 of the total. 



This figure of .'ii2,li8 or roughly $2,50 per box we stress represents the gross 

 selling price needed to break even. It also, as previously pointed out, is based 

 on estimated yields of top grade apples. Furthermore, this is a i^rtiolesale figure. 

 Delivery to the store and the legitimate retail mark-up would have to be added 

 to translate the cost into terms of produce shopping. 



The group felt that it was very interesting and helpful to set up such a set 

 of figures and to try and pick out cost factors over which the grower might have 

 the most influence or could do something about. In tlie history of fruit growing 

 it has been consistently found that correct understanding and realization of one's 

 individual cost-per-unit figures have been essential to success, 



— ^iiax 0, Fultz 



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ORCHARD MOUSE CONTROL SUPPLIES 



Orchard mouse control supplies will be available as usual from the Rodent 

 Control Fund, South College Building, University of Massachusetts or your local 

 cooperating agency. Every year some fruit growers initiate this mouse control pro- 

 gram at too late a date to successfully cover their entire orchard. Sometimes 

 this is due to circumstances over v^hich they have no control. There is not much 

 we can do about spells of bad weather or a late harvest that extends way into 

 frosty weather. Yet there are some things that are under our command. We have 

 taken some steps at Amherst to provide you with prompt service at this end after 

 we have received your order. 



