THE MclNTOSH APPLE ON THE NEW YORK MARKET 19) 



taste hotter if packed in barrels. Another sugg:ests that all Mcintosh be 

 wrapped, as they arrive in better condition and keep better than those not 

 wrapped. Some consumers think tiie wrappers "take the taste out." 



Margins and Prices. 



Two Brooklyn dealers carry Mcintosh only because of the demand for 

 them, as the retailer's margins on this variety are not high enough in that 

 market. One said that he can not make more than 10 per cent prt)lit on 

 them. 



The margins of the jobbers who handled these apples were low, but of 

 course their costs were comparatively small and the turnover in most cases 

 was rapid. One jobber sold his lot in a few hours for 31 cents a box above 

 the purchase price and the charges. He paid $4.15 a box; 14 cents for cart- 

 age, etc., brought his costs to $4.29; and he sold for $4.60. One jobber who 

 bought from one of the original purchasers asked $4.85 a box. 



Prices at retail stores also varied. The chain of fruit stores made an 

 average of $1.82 a box above charges and purchase price, selling mostly by 

 the apple, although part were sold by the pound. The price per apple was 

 five cents, and the price per pound 15 cents. This chain could sell many 

 more Mcintosh, "twice as many", if they were to be had. Indeed, other 

 purchasers of these apples complained that they had to pay too high a price 

 for them because the buyer for this chain was so anxious to get them that he 

 paid more at the auction than the apples were worth to most dealers. 



The reports of individual retailers indicate that their average gross margin 

 was higher than that of the chain fruit stores. It is probably true, however, 

 that tlieir net returns are lower. The average gain on boxes sold by these 

 individual stores was $2,197. These dealers sold also by the apple, but most 

 of their sales v>ere by the pound. The prices per apple were five cents, or 

 six for 25 cents. There was a feeling among some who were asking five cents 

 that they might have to reduce the price to four cents in order to get rid of 

 them. It was apparently well recognized that tliese apples must be sold as 

 rapidly as possible to prevent spoilage. 



Sales by the pound ranged from 10 cents to 18 cents. Over half of those 

 selling by the pound were asking 15 cents, although an occasional dealer 

 asked 15 cents for one pound but would sell two pounds for 25 cents. One- 

 third of those reporting sales by the pound were selling more or less at that 

 rate. One dealer was asking 18 cents a pound, and one who was selling at 

 10 cents a pound was also asking 10 cents an apple. 



Individually the gross returns ranged from $1.32 for one box of 150's sold 

 at two pounds for 25 cents, to one box sold at a profit of .$3.80. This does 

 not include 10 boxes which the dealer said were being sold at 10 cents a 

 pound or 10 cents an apple. If even four boxes of the lot were sold by the 

 apple at this price, the returns would far exceed any other lot. It is doubt- 

 ful, however, if many would be sold at that price when at the same store 

 10 cents would buy a pound. 



The Nashoba apples are well and favorably known to "the trade" in New 

 York. One or two of the retailers had not handled them before, but most of 

 those who bought from this car knew them. There were several complaints of 

 the condition of this lot, although some who complained said the brand was 

 usually good. 



