WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OF PKUITS AND VEGETABLES. 3 



ing. Production during the last decade has increased greatly, and as 

 a natural consequence improved methods and facilities for handling 

 the increase have become necessary. Keeping pace with increased 

 production has come the demand of consumers for more elaborate 

 and efficient service. Little thought is given to the fact that service 

 can become a very expensive luxury. With the widening of the 

 distance between the city and the sources of its fruit and vegetable 

 supplies there has arisen the necessity for special agencies to meet 

 the changed conditions. 



The fact should be recognized that present distributive machinery, 

 with all its strong points and its weaknesses, has been created of 

 necessity, and it has weathered the storm of much adverse criticism, 

 because every part of the country is now enjoying the perishable 

 products of the most remote districts. Any readjustment of present 

 market practices must be based upon the fact that some agency must 

 continue to perform the functions of the present-day middleman. 



Handling goods through a large market is a very complex process. 

 The problems involved differ greatly from those of production. 

 Usually one man or one firm can not handle both production and 

 distribution and succeed at both. The vast volume of business 

 transacted at large market centers makes necessary some special 

 agencies which can devote all their energies to distribution. 

 Especially does the machinery for efficient marketing become neces- 

 sary when perishable goods are to be handled. Commodities of this 

 sort must be moved rapidly, must be distributed evenly, and from 

 their very nature permit of no weakness in distributive machinery, 

 if they are to be sold at a profit. 



METHODS OF RECEIVING. 



As soon as a shipper starts a car of perishables toward the market, 

 In' should notify the consignee. This one important detail is often 

 omitted or neglected by shippers. Little thought is given to the fact 

 that the consignee, especially if a large firm, may have many other 

 shipments en route or on hand. The viewpoint of the small shipper 

 whose annual output may be from 1 to 10 carloads is narrowed. The 

 one or two fill's which he may be rolling toward market are very im- 

 portant to him, and lie usually loses sight of the fact that his prop- 

 city on arrival ;it the market will be only a very insignificant portion 

 of the total receipts. The firm to which the shipment is made may 

 have more carloads on track and for sale in one day than the shipper 

 would forward in five years. 



Keeping records of all these shipments is a great burden on large, 

 wholesale, distributing concerns, and lack of proper notification often 

 cause.-; much n<<dlc Confusion and costly delay at distributing ecu- 



