SHIPPING MASSACHUSETTS APPLES 17 



particularly on apples from the west. Shipments from this area usually move 

 under standard refrigerator service for which the charges are higher than for 

 "icing". Differences in refrigeration costs between producing areas and north- 

 eastern markets are negligible except in the case of shipments from the far west. 

 Some small local variations occur in costs of loading, packages and packaging. 

 In determining the relative advantages of producing areas in supplying certain 

 markets, freight charges computed on the cost of shipping a car of 600 boxes, 

 western type, were used.^^ 



If an attempt were made to construct a total marketing cost, exclusive of commis- 

 sions, items would be introduced which would make the comparison of question- 

 able value. The freight charge, however, as a basis of comparison is sound. It is 

 relatively stable; it can be accurately determined; it lends itself well to this type 

 of work, particularly when the distances between areas are large enough so that 

 points of origin and destinations are grouped. 



The advantage of the lower freight charges which Massachusetts growers enjoy 

 as a result of being near the consuming areas is wider in its application than is 

 normally appreciated. Large advantages accrue from lower freight charges on 

 shipments not only to Boston or New York, but also to many other markets in the 

 northeast. 



A comparison of the freight charges from Massachusetts points to certain markets 

 with the corresponding charge from the farwest to the same destination emphasizes 

 the advantageous location of Massachusetts growers. To nearby points such as 

 New York, local growers pay $250 to $272 lower freight charges per car than 

 California, Oregon or Washington growers pay. To more distant points, for 

 example, Cleveland, the difference in favor of Massachusetts growers varies from 

 $221 to $232. Table 7 lists the advantages arising from lower freight charges 

 which Massachusetts growers enjoy over West Coast growers. 



A comparison of charges from Massachusetts points with those from the apple 

 regions of New York State to eastern markets shows the advantages of situation 

 to be about evenly divided. To markets such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and 

 Detroit the advantage is generally with New York State. 



Table 7 — Differences in Freight Charges to Certain Markets from 

 THE West Coast and from Massachusetts Shipping Points 



Range Of Advantage 

 Market From Massachusetts Points 



New York (Barclay St.) 



Philadelphia 



Baltimore 



Washington 



Pittsburgh 



Cincinnati 



Cleveland 



Detroit 



Chicago 



St. Louis 



Shipments from the West Coast move under a commodity rate. The minimum volumes which 

 can be shipped to take this rate are roughly 700 or 800 boxes, depending on the size of the refrig- 

 erator car. 



