8 BULLETIN" 266, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ciations sell subject to the confirmation of the grower, but in other 

 instances the grower allows the association to take entire charge of 

 the shipment. It is customary in the sale of citrus and deciduous 

 fruits to pool the returns for definite periods varying from a day, 

 week, or month to the whole season. Pooling means that the re- 

 turns from all sales by the association within a given period are com- 

 bined. The returns from each variety and grade are separated, and 

 divided among the members according to the amount, variety, and 

 grade shipped during this period by each grower. Where the product 

 of the association is of standard pack and grade, the method is fair 

 to all concerned. 



Some associations make substantial advances to growers either for 

 planting expenses or as an advance on expected returns at the time 

 of shipment, ranging in some cases from 50 to 75 per cent of the 

 expected selling price. Most well-established associations sell direct 

 to the wholesale trade or through salaried representatives or private 

 brokers who are situated in the principal market centers of the 

 country and who, in addition to actually selling the products of the 

 association, keep the central office well informed as to market con- 

 ditions and prospects. The representatives or brokers in many 

 cases represent the association upon the auction, which is used some- 

 times in special lines. Some shipments are consigned, although 

 this practice is uncommon with associations in the West, and is 

 being eliminated gradually by nearly all organizations. 



The charges for cost of selling range from 2 to 10 per cent of 

 the selling price, the usual charge being 5 per cent. In 1913 the 

 average selling cost of boxed apples by all of the associations in 

 the Pacific Northwest was 7 per cent. This included an assessment 

 for advertising. The usual practice is for the association to announce 

 a certain tax per box or unit to cover the expected selling and other 

 costs. After the sales are made this amount, together with other 

 deductions, such as advances made to growers, is subtracted from 

 the gross proceeds and the balance returned to the growers. 



Cooperative organization is more highly developed in the West 

 than elsewhere in the United States. More than 50 per cent of the 

 apples and other deciduous fruits of the Northwest and Middle 

 Rockies and the larger portion of California fruits are distributed 

 and marketed by cooperative organizations of the growers. In the 

 Middle Western, Southern, and Eastern States many special prod- 

 ucts, such as strawberries, peaches, apples, grapes, onions, potatoes, 

 and other vegetables, are distributed cooperatively in a large way. 

 There are individual organizations that do an annual business in 

 the millions, and it is estimated that the farmers' associations of the 

 United States will transact more than $1,000,000,000 worth of 

 business in 1915. 



