138 



MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 



efficiency and general helpfulness to the producer has 

 increased from year to year. 



Parcel Post. Another means of transporting perish- 

 able goods, which is now only in its infancy, is the use 

 of the parcel post. It is not possible to predict at pres- 

 ent just how far this service will develop, yet most 

 shippers are looking forward to the time when a real 



efficient parcel post 

 can be put in opera- 

 tion. There are many 

 reasons, both pro and 

 con, regarding the use 

 of the parcel post for 

 perishable goods, and 

 these are far too num- 

 erous to be given 

 lengthy consideration 

 here. The greatest 

 value of this plan lies in the shipping of produce 

 from the grower to the consumer. This will cause 

 the elimination of all middlemen and represent theoreti- 

 cally the ideal condition for marketing farm produce. 

 Its use will be attended by many difficulties until the 

 consuming public has been educated to appreciate its 

 value and until then it will probably not be in ex- 

 tensive use. 



In addition to this, the present rate offered by parcel 

 post is not materially less than that offered by express 

 companies and for fruits is still too high to be of service 

 to the individual producer. When the consumers in the 

 large cities can arrange in advance to use the mail 

 to order produce direct from the farms, then will 



Fig. 102. PASTEBOARD PACKAGES 

 For sending produce by mail. 



