UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



^J^^r\j-u 



1 BULLETIN No. 266 



Contribution from Office of Markets and Rural Organization 

 CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief 



^W^fW 



Washington, D. C. 



August 16, 1915 



OUTLETS AND METHODS OF SALE FOR SHIPPERS 

 OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. x 



By J. W. Fisher, Jr., and J. H. Collins, Assistants in Market Surveys, and Wells A. 

 Sherman, Sjiecialist in Market Surveys. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Finding a market 2 



Market quotations 4 



Visiting the market 5 



Business responsibility 6 



Advertising 7 



Primary outlets for producers 7 



Cooperative associations 7 



Sales direct to consumers 9 



Primary outlets for producers— Continued. 



Sales through middlemen 12 



General sales practices and terms 17 



Sales at point of origin 17 



Sales in transit 21 



Sales at destination 22 



Conclusion 23 



Summary 24 



Glossary 26 



INTRODUCTION. 



Numerous publications have been issued dealing with the prepara- 

 tion of goods for market, but little definite information has been 

 compiled as to how the commodities are marketed, where to find a 

 market, how to ship, how the grower can protect himself in business 

 dealings, and other questions of vital importance. Farmers are 

 inclined to suspect almost all middlemen of sharp practice, and are 

 especially prone to believe that commission men misrepresent the 

 condition of goods on arrival and render short returns. 



Producers are often accused of deliberate dishonesty in their 

 business relations with middlemen because of their failure to live 

 up to agreements in the manner dictated by commercial practice. 

 Yet, in a greal majority of rases, the trouble is not caused by inten- 

 tional dishonesty but rathei arises through ignorance of trade condi- 



01 f-x j.'» it Ion of 'li.slribillion mHlio'ls aii'l ' Ilm ;•'- ■ in Hie oil y :;<■<* Collins, J. II.; Ki:;hor, J. W.Jr., 

 i.'-nniin. W't-il . A. Method \ol Wholesale i>i Btrlbul ion of Fruits and Vegotables on Largo Markets 

 Bui. 261 .i. of Agriculture, L915. 



. 'i hi, bulletin should be oi Interest to shippers, dealers, and oousumers ol fruits and cegetablea 

 throughout the ' falted State i. 



96016*— Bull. 266—15 1 



