THE DISTRIBUTION OF NORTHWESTERN BOXED APPLES. 



Standardization in packing-house methods has not been exten- 

 sively applied. Modern appliances for handling the fruit, such as 

 sizing machines and power and gravity conveyors, are now generally 

 used. Apples are packed at the orchards and in central or commu- 

 nity packing houses operated by shipping organizations. The pro- 

 portion packed in the houses of the latter type has increased from 

 about one-fourth of the crop in 1916 to approximately one-half 

 in 1919. 



Most of the fruit is packed into the three standard grades. 5 In 

 the Extra Fancy and Fancy grades the fruit is wrapped with paper. 

 Most shippers wrap the " G " grade, but " Jumble " and " face and 

 fill " packs are also commonly used. , 



TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE FACILITIES. 



The long haul 6 from the producing areas in the Pacific North- 

 west to consuming centers makes the problem of transportation and 

 storage most important. Transportation facilities have not kept 

 pace with the rapidly increasing production, and many heavy losses 

 to growers and shippers are attributed to the shortage of refrigerator 

 equipment and insufficient storage space. This was especially true 

 in the 1919-20 season. In 1915 the combined common and cold 

 storages in producing districts could accommodate more than 60 

 per cent of the commercial production, but in the 1919-20 season 

 there was capacity for approximately only 40 per cent of the fruit. 



The unusually heavy production in 1919 with the combination of 

 a short picking season and insufficient storage facilities caused an 

 unprecedented congestion. Every available space was used for stor- 

 ing apples, and with the common storages and some cold storages 

 packed with more than their designed capacity, proper ventilation 

 and efficient handling were practically impossible. These congested 

 conditions caused a very rapid maturing of much of the fruit, and 

 heavy losses were sustained in consequent deterioration. Insufficient 

 storage space and a shortage of cars in the fall cause much rehan- 

 dling and add considerably to the cost of packing and shipping. 



The railways, refrigerator-car lines, and the Bureau of Markets 

 are making efforts to reduce waste in transit. The fruit is shipped 

 mostly in refrigerator cars, and in the early fall and in the spring 

 many shipments are made under ice. During periods of extreme low 

 temperatures heaters are installed in the cars, but generally speaking 

 most shipments are billed under ventilation. For short hauls and 

 to Pacific coast points box cars are often used during the periods 

 before and after extreme cold weather. In cases of great emergency 

 during a car shortage shipments to eastern points are made in box 

 cars, but in such cases they are usually accompanied by messengers 



B See Exhibit No. 4, p. 17. « See Exhibit No. 1, p. 11. 



