10 BULLETIN 935, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of cars, and a very limited demand from the latter part of November 

 until the lirst part of January greatly restricted sales. During this 

 period a very large percentage of the shipments were rolled unsold 

 and many cars that moved in this way were forced on the large mar- 

 kets and sold finally at auction and on private sale at heavy dis- 

 counts. Practically all sales of rollers were made at a lower figure 

 than f . o. b. sales and showed a wider range. .Reports from the large 

 terminal markets showed price ranges of as much as $3 on the Extra 

 Fancy grade. Freezing damage in transit was largely the cause of 

 the very wide range in auction sales. 



Although prices paid for apples in the fall of 1919 were higher 

 than markets afterwards warranted and caused heavy losses to many 

 operators, the average price at consuming centers was high for the 

 season as a whole, considering the size of the crop. 



As a brief summing up of the whole question of marketing north- 

 western boxed apples, it may be said that the present proportions of 

 the industry have been made possible only by the progressive spirit 

 by which it is characterized. 



In the establishment of standards for color full advantage has been 

 taken of the fact that a large percentage of well-colored specimens is 

 usually produced in the Northwest. The market value of the fruit 

 has been enhanced in this way. The State governments have been 

 active in guarding against the shipment of inferior fruit and dishonest 

 packs, so that the northwestern crop as a whole has been handled and 

 marketed in general conformity to more uniform and rigid standards 

 than have prevailed in other sections of equally heavy production. 

 There is perhaps no more striking proof than is here afforded of the 

 dominating importance of standardization as a factor in the success- 

 ful large scale marketing of perishable farm products. 



