164 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 



The seasons of the year effect the demand in that 

 most of the buyers in the large cities want fruit only in 

 its normal season. In the spring, everyone is anxious 

 to get strawberries, and while they may be had later in 

 the year, the demand is greatest in the spring because 

 of the habit of people buying fruit only when in season. 

 This has led producers to a great rush to get fruit for 

 the early market, realizing that the prices would be 

 higher because of the increased demand. This has re- 

 acted unfavorably against some of the Southern states 

 so that they, in their haste to get fruit on the early 

 market, have permitted themselves to pick it before it is 

 sufficiently matured. As a consequence, the flavor and 

 quality of the fruit was a disappointment to the pur- 

 chaser and, through this means, certain fruit districts 

 in the South and the West have become unpopular. 



Lastly, the supply of other fruits affects the demand 

 through the price of the various kinds. For example, 

 when oranges can be had more cheaply on the general 

 market than apples, most of the consumers will buy the 

 oranges ; when the apples become cheaper they will buy 

 those, and when bananas are reduced below either or- 

 anges or apples the probability is that the demand will 

 increase for the bananas and decrease for the others. 



When considering the price paid for fruit, several 

 important factors appear which are also associated with 

 supply and demand. These could be enumerated as fol- 

 lows: (1) Quantity of fruit offered. (2) Quality of 

 fruit offered. (3) General prosperity of the country. 

 (4) The attractiveness of the fruit. (5) The condition 

 of the market. 



If the quantity of the fruit is large the price is apt 



