labor required to produce the crop decreased 29.0 percent to 533 million 

 man hours. Thus, over a 35 year period, the productivity of labor in- 

 creased roughly 150 percent from .013 tons per man hour to .033 tons 

 per man hour. 



Current Trends 



In summary, the following trends seem evident in apple production 

 over the past 40 years: 



(1) A sharp reduction in numbers of apple trees. During the last 

 few years this reduction has been relatively greater in bearing- 

 age trees than in young stock. This is an indication that unpro- 

 ductive trees are still disappearing rapidly but new plantings 

 are starting to level off. 



(2) A reduction in the number of fruit farms. 



(3) A concentration of apple production into larger specialized 

 farms. 



(4) A fivefold increase in production per tree. 



(5) A concentration of apple production into certain geographical 

 regions. 



Marketing 



During the period 1920-1960, the marketing structure and technology 

 for all produce items changed considerably. Changes occurred in grad- 

 ing, packing, transportation, handling, and selling methods. In the 

 early part of the century apples were handled, packed, and sold much 

 as potatoes were a few years ago. The most common containers were 

 barrels and bushel baskets, little or no grading was done, and many 

 apples were sold out of common storage in barrel lots. Apples were a 

 staple fruit item in northern cities during the winter months. Today 

 apples are handled as a perishable item. Lacking storage facilities for 

 large quantities of fresh fruit, consumers purchase more often and in 

 smaller quantities. The large supermarkets work on a principle of 

 rapid turnover, maintaining relatively small stocks and demanding 

 delivery about three times per week on perishable produce items. The 

 grower or handler is now doing practically all of the storing job. 



Regional Surpluses and Deficits 



The apparent concentration of production on larger farms in specific 

 regions has important implications as to the marketing and transpor- 

 tation of the nation's apple crop. It would appear to necessitate an in- 

 crease in the transportation of apples from surplus to deficit areas. Some 

 indication of the accuracy of this proposition can be gained from Table 5. 



The surplus of 41 million bushels in the early period is somewhat 

 misleading since non-commercial production (which seldom reached 

 the market) is included. In addition, exports were quite high in the 

 early 1920's, averaging aliout 10 million Inishcls per year. 



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