THE MARKET FOR MASSACHUSETTS APPLES 15 



Reports of cash-and-carry stores show that 66 per cent use A grade 

 apples, and 27 per cent A grade only. The demand for Fancy apples is 

 confined to 7 per cent of these stores; 14 per cent want B grade, and 6 

 per cent want this grade only. The remainder handle any grade or un- 

 classified. Three per cent report a demand for unclassified only. 



The nine self-service stores reporting show that five handle A grade 

 apples only; one handles both A and B and the other three handle unclassi- 

 fied apples. 



Hucksters buy mostly according to price, with variety, grade and size 

 of minor importance. 



An analysis of the demand as influenced by the nationality of consum- 

 ers shows that 63 per cent of stores patronized wholly or mostly by people 

 of native stock want A grade only; while 70 per cent of those with a 

 patronage largely Swedish, and 55 per cent of those catering largely to 

 French, use A grade only. The sale of B grade only is reported by 32 per 

 cent of the stores having mainly American custom and 20 per cent of those 

 chiefly or partly Irish. 



Sizes Preferred 



Preferences are very definitely for one size in a container, nearly three- 

 fourths of those retailers reporting state this choice; 8 per cent prefer 

 assorted sizes in a container; while 18 per cent express no preference. 

 Preference for assorted sizes within a container applies mostly to cheaper 

 varieties and grades of apples, often to those to be used for cooking. 



The preference is in general for apples about 2y2 to 2% inches in 

 diameter. This is the first choice of practically every buyer, but with the 

 cheapest trade, price controls the purchase as to grade, size and variety. 

 Table 9 presents the favored sizes reported by different types of trade. 



As in the case of grades, so the size of apples purchased by hucksters 

 is a consideration secondary to price, as they depend chiefly on a glutted 

 market for their supply, and buy whatever they think they can sell at a 

 profit. 



Practically all wholesalers reported that fruitstand operators wish only 

 good grades and the larger sizes of apples. As this fact indicates, there 

 are few cheap fruit stands and these where there is little trading by 

 hucksters. 



Uses of Apples 



From information furnished by consumers, it is evident that the follow- 

 ing statement of proportion of apples used for different household purposes 

 is fairly typical, although it must be understood that there are many and 

 wide variations therefrom. 



Uses Per Cent Uses Per Cent 



Raw , 60 Baking 10 



Pies 20 Salad 5 



Sauce 10 Other 5 



