58 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 250 



as it is called, but for the most part the quality of the produce sold herr 

 is not of the best. 



The four chain store systems represented in the area also handle large 

 volumes of apples, bought directly from the grower in New England and 

 New York. These quantities, because they do not go through the ordin- 

 ary channels of trade, have been sometimes overlooked in estimating the 

 volume of products handled. 



Demand and Price 



The strongest proof of a consumer's preference for any product is the 

 price he will pay for it in competition with other products. In the case 

 of apples, the consumer's preference for a definite variety, grade or size 

 is indicated by what he will pay for it in preference to other varieties or 

 grades or sizes. 



Through the courtesy of the officials of the Nashoba Apple Packing 

 Association, access was given to the records of the organization for the 

 four seasons, 1924-1927. These supply the net price to the grower for all 

 apples sold through the Association during the period, a total of such 

 volume as to make the figures fairly reliable. These figures are of value 

 also because the costs of marketing are the same for all lots and all 

 varieties, and because the method of marketing is the same throughout 

 the period. 



The records of the Nashoba Apple Packing Association have been 

 studied to determine the preferences of consumers. The volumes of dif- 

 ferent varieties, grades and sizes of apples handled by the Association 

 have been analyzed with reference to the prices paid for them. 



Varu'tji inifl Price 



The relative preference for varieties is best shown by a comparison of 



the prices they bring in competition with each other. Following is a table 



which shows average net prices received by growers for different grades 

 of each variety handled in each season.' 



Xable 2. — Average Prices to Growers, of Ten Varieties, 1924-1927.* 

 A Grade (per box) 



Variety 



Baldwin 



Delicious 



Gravenstein 



Greening 



Mcintosh 



Northern Spy 



Oldenburg 



Wagener 



Wealthy 



"Williams 



3 Of course it must be recognized that not all these varieties are on the niarl'Cet at 

 the same time, the Williams, Oldenburg and Gravenstein being early varieties which 

 obviously can not seriously affect the market for the Baldwin and other winter apples. 

 The early varieties find their competitors rather among other fruits, such a.'* jieaihes 



