6 FRUIT HARVESTING, STORING, MARKETING 



6. Quality. — The general market gives adequate 

 consideration to appearance, l)ut paj-s little attention to 

 quality. Ben Davis and Kieffer, proverbially inferior 

 in quality, are standard and profitable market sorts. 

 In the direct or private market quality is a matter of 

 first importance. Appearance counts for less. 



7. Shipping quality. — Fruit for the general market 

 must be such as will bear shipment and much rough 

 handling. That for the private market need not sub- 

 mit to this test. 



8. Package. — The wholesale market requires a 

 standard package. Almost any neat, clean package 

 may be u.sed in the diredl market, and sometimes fruit 

 is delivered in bulk, from sacks, boxes, barrels or bas- 

 kets, without any package. In the wholesale market 

 a gift package is practically always required. The 

 man who has private customers frequently has his 

 boxes or baskets returned to him. 



9. Season. — The general market accepts fruits only 

 in season. There is no sale for Fameuse apples after 

 Christmas, and no general sale for strawberries before 

 April. The private market often pays extra for fruit 

 out of season. The sales of strawberries which are 

 made every year during January and February are 

 made to .special customers. Such berries do not come 

 into the general market. 



II. THE MARKET PROBLEMS 



There are several successive problems which face 

 the man who grows fruit for sale, whether he have in 



