MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF STRAWBERRIES. 9 



In one instance it was noted that where there was competition 

 for the tonnage the roads provided splencjid facilities for handling the 

 berries, icing the cars, and insuring rapid movement to destinations. 

 At another point served exclusively by one of the same roads no 

 facilities were provided, except the right to load cars on the team 

 tracks near the station. At the particular competitive station 

 referred to the railroads even took over the loading and bracing of 

 the cars, and assumed responsibility for the condition of the load 

 on arrival. At several noncompetitive stations visited, however, the 

 shipper did all the loading, stripping, and bracing in the cars and 

 paid all costs connected with these operations. At most shipping 

 stations where observations were made the railroads or the refriger- 

 ator-car lines did the initial icing of the cars and made arrangements 

 for all necessary icings in transit. 



A STUDY OF THE LOUISIANA DISTRICT. 



One of the authors was stationed in the Louisiana strawberry dis- 

 trict during the active shipping season of 1915 to distribute tele- 

 graphic market news and to study distribution problems there. The 

 office did not have an opportunity to make studies in similar detail 

 elsewhere during that season. 



HISTORY. 



The Louisiana district is one of the most important commercial 

 strawberry-growing districts in the United States. Probably no 

 area of equal size produces a larger quantity of berries. The entire 

 district is confined to the parish of Tangipahoa, the production area 

 being located on both sides of the line of the Illinois Central Railroad 

 from Ponchatoula to Amite City, a distance of 20 miles. 



The industry is very important locally, many of the farmers being 

 almost entirely dependent upon the strawberry crop for their cash 

 income. Its importance is illustrated by the fact that in one town 

 the school year is so arranged that the vacation comes at the time 

 of the strawberry harvest, leaving the children free for berry picking. 



The time of shipment of the Louisiana crop also makes it of pecu- 

 liar interest to the dealer and consumer, as it is the first region shipping 

 strawberries largely in carloads, the season normally beginning 

 about April 1.' 



The industry has been hi existence for many years, but only 

 since 1910 has it grown to considerable proportions. During the 

 early years Chicago was the sole market, and this city still takes a 

 heavy supply. However, in the 1915 season more than 60 markets, 

 scattered from Boston to Seattle, were reached, thus giving the crop 

 a wider distribution than that from any other section, and making it 

 a matter of national interest. 

 62735°— Bull. 477—17 2 



