MARKET PREPARATION, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE 265 



PACKING-HOUSE OPERATIONS 



The packing-house performs today efficiently the opera- 

 tions which twenty-five years ago were attempted in a 

 desultory way on the farm. The fruit is sometimes brushed or 

 polished and in some cases washed. These processes increase 

 the chances for injury and consequent decay and have to be 

 performed with the greatest care. Grading the fruit consists 

 in sorting according to color, quality, and size. The grading 

 may be done either by hand or by machinery. Its purpose 

 is to enable the packer to put the fruit up in such a way 

 that each container is filled with a fairly uniform quality 

 and size. 



377. Packing. Systematic packing is advantageous to 

 the industry in several ways. It results in a more attractive 

 product; and this always reacts to create a better market. 

 It adds to the carrying quality of the fruit, for in good packing 

 the contents are placed in the package tightly with no chance 

 to move about. It facilitates shipment and delivery to the 

 wholesaler or retailer. It enables a grower, an association, or 

 a community to build up through a period of years a reputa- 

 tion for a good product so that the name on the outside 

 of the package carries a guarantee of the quality of the 

 goods within. 



Just as in the processes of picking, hauling, and grading, 

 great care is necessary in packing. There is a possibility of 

 injury from finger-nail scratches, from throwing the fruit, or 

 from squeezing it unduly in fitting it into the container. It is 

 essential in filling that there be some bulge in the center of the 

 box and that the tops when nailed on spring outward and 

 hold the fruit in place. This method would seem to cause 

 injury, but this is not the case unless this bulge in the center 

 is uneven or too high. 



378. Wrapping. In the case of some fruits, there is an 

 advantage in wrapping. Fruits so treated have a bright and 



