manufacturers) to be the best in every respect. A number of users ex- 

 pressed concern over wrinkling of the film, costs, condensation, etc. 

 Some packers feel that large volumes are required to justify high 

 overhead costs of equipment and therefore shrink film packaging can be 

 best used by large growers or packers who can specialize and lower their 

 per unit packing costs. 



Some retailers and chain store organizations have been reluctant 

 to pay a slight premium for prepackaged apples to help offset the added 

 cost involved in shrink film packages, even though their net profits 

 might be increased. 



There are people closely associated with the industry who say that 

 shrink film packages are primarily supplementary in nature and should 

 be used along with bagged apples to maximize sales. Others feel that 

 the total consumer acceptance for some tray packed apples has not yet 

 been adequately proven. Some retailers advance the theory that to 

 maximize sales we should be thinking of even larger units especially 

 at harvest time, during the Halloween season, and on other special 

 occasions. 



There is no question that polyethlene jumble-filled bags and shrink 

 film packages are here to stay. From a grower standpoint, it appears 

 presently that tray packages are proving most advantageous to distant 

 shippers and producers who are handling large volumes of the softer 

 flesh varieties of apples. 



Competition 



From the marketing aspect, the time has passed when producers can 

 rely heavily on local buyers to sell their apples to, without meeting 

 strong competition from other producing areas and from a multitude of 

 highly advertised and competitive items being offered for sale to con- 

 sumers. The marketing pattern for apples with few exceptions has now 

 become exceedingly more complex. 



U.S. apple producers must continually do a better job of meeting 

 the price, quality and services offered by competitors. 



Some of these needs can best be met by individuals, while others 

 require the joint effort of all producers, well organized and working 

 together in harmony, to do the job. Only those producers who are will- 

 ing to recognize the changes taking place in the apple industry today 

 and who are willing to adjust their operations accordingly will con- 

 tinue to be successful in the apple business in the years ahead. 



Costs and Efficienc y 



In many cases, efficiency is the most critical factor in deter- 

 mining whether a profit or loss results from the production and sale 

 of apples. Present economic conditions in marketing apples indicate 

 an efficiency of the highest degree is needed in order to be success- 

 ful in today's extremely competitive situation. 



