DISTRIBUTION 379 



management of the association is generally placed in the 

 hands of a board of directors, who are elected by the mem- 

 bers, and who in turn appoint a manager. The manager 

 may be hired on a salary or on a commission basis, and in 

 the larger association, he gives all his time to the work. 

 In the smaller association, he usually works on a com- 

 mission basis. 



Distribution. One of the greatest advantages of co- 

 operative organizations is that they insure a proper dis- 

 tribution of the crops. Good distribution is almost im- 

 possible without organization. If the shipping of the crop 

 is in the hands of one man who is in close touch with the 

 supply and demand of each market, slumps in prices due 

 to glutted markets may be successfully avoided. 



Cooperative associations relieve the producer of the 

 details and troubles associated with marketing problems. 

 He can then devote all his energies to the producing end 

 of the business. Associations should be able also to sell 

 at uniformly higher prices than an individual producer, as 

 a manager is able to keep in closer touch with the various 

 markets, especially of the larger consuming centers. Ship- 

 ments can be made on a larger scale, which means a greater 

 saving in the cost of shipping as well as better transpor- 

 tation. Better prices are also obtained because the prod- 

 uct may be uniformly packed under strict rules by laborers 

 under the direct supervision of the manager. Uniformity 

 in packages means the establishment of a reputation, and 

 consequently a greater demand for the product. Indirectly, 

 organizations have resulted in bringing the growers closer 

 together. They become interested in each other's crops, 

 and by the mutual exchange of ideas, become more intel- 

 ligent and successful producers. 



