WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OF EEUlTS AND VEGETABLES. 25 



3. The shipper who starts a car toward market should notify the 

 consignee in such detail that prompt disposition of the goods may be 

 made after the arrival of the car. This notification is often made by 

 telegram and should include all information necessary to insure the 

 prompt acceptance and disposal of the shipment. 



4. As perishables should always be inspected promptly on arrival 

 at destination, the shipper should give shipping instructions which 

 permit inspection without unnecessary delay at destination. 



5. Rejecting shipments of fruits and vegetables is an all too com- 

 mon practice on large markets. Often rejection may be justified, 

 as when goods have arrived in a greatly deteriorated condition, but 

 sometimes the actual cause for rejection is simply a decline in the 

 market price. 



6. In case a buyer rejects a car the shipper has the option of selling 

 elsewhere or making an allowance to the original purchaser in order 

 to close the transaction immediately. Claims against railroads should 

 be filed in proper form and supported by a presentation of the facts 

 in the case. 



7. Perishables after arrival at market pass on to the consumer 

 through many channels. Often, however, one firm may combine the 

 functions of several middlemen, so that while there are many types 

 of distributors it does not follow that goods actually change hands as 

 often as a scrutiny of the list of middlemen might seem to indicate. 



8. The fact that large cities secure supplies of fruits and vegetables 

 from distant producing areas has been one of the main causes of 

 increasingly complex marketing methods. 



9. Brokers act as shippers' or buyers' agents. They handle car lots 

 only and offer their services at very low rates. While many brokers 

 are charged with abusing their privileges, they often save the shipper 

 several times the brokerage fee by insuring the acceptance of goods 

 at destination. 



10. Fruit auctions sell goods for shippers, dealers, and others who 

 have local representatives to Avithdraw offerings if prices are unsatis- 

 factory. They secure their revenue by levying definite assessments 

 against each package' sold, and by attracting buyers and stimulating 

 corn petition often expand the market for particular commodities. 



11. The car-loi wholesalers constitute one of the most important 

 factors in our Large terminal markets. They handle great quan- 

 tities of perishables annually and net :is primary distributors of 

 produce arriving at market in car-lot quantities. 



\i. The commission merchant receives goods on consignment and 

 acts ;i- fie- shipper's agent iii disposing of these products to the job- 

 bing and retail trade. While the commission merchant is viewed 

 uiili much suspicion by many shippers, he nevertheless is a very 



