10 BULLETIN 4*77, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS. 



The strawberry growers in Louisiana are well organized, practically 

 all being members of local shipping associations. In fact, there are 

 frequently two, three, or even four such associations at one station. 

 There seems to be a rather unnecessary duplication of selling 

 expense by reason of the operation of several associations at ship- 

 ping points where the business is so limited that all of it could easily 

 be handled by one association at a smaller cost. 



The northern houses usually send a large number of buyers to the 

 district during the car-lot movement, and sales are made on a cash 

 f. o. b. shipping-point basis, inspection being made and acceptance 

 being taken before the cars move. In general, this method has 

 proved satisfactory. At Ponchatoula practically all cars are sold at 

 public auction. As this point has the reputation of producing 

 superior berries, the auction has worked satisfactorily. It is unique 

 in that it is the only point in the United States, so far as is known, 

 where full carloads of strawberries are sold at auction. 



The association charge for selling berries usually is 5 cents per 

 crate, a refund generally being made to the growers after expenses 

 are paid. A considerable portion of the crop is handled by a dis- 

 tributing company for the account of local associations, a fixed 

 charge being made for this service. 



A very essential feature of the work of the local associations is the 

 financing of the growers by supplying them with fertilizers, feed, 

 crate material, etc. The purchase of supplies through the local 

 associations is especially important in Louisiana, and this form of 

 association activity is growing. 



QUALITY AND PACK. 



In general, Louisiana berries enjoy a fairly good reputation for 

 quality and pack. Varieties are fairly well standardized, and when 

 weather conditions have been favorable, deterioration in marketing 

 has not been excessive. In certain seasons, when the weather has 

 been unfavorable, the losses from deterioration have been heavy. 



Berries usually are carried from the field to the packing shed in 

 picking trays, and are there packed in boxes. While the packing 

 probably is as good as in most shipping sections, there is urgent need 

 for improvement. A number of cars noted by the market reporters of 

 the office showed very slack pack. One car in Pittsburgh was exam- 

 ined and the cups were found to be barely half full. Several dealers were 

 arrested in that city for selling these short-measure cups of berries. 



Two types of crates are in use, the unventilated (Hallock) with 

 solid sides, and the ventilated (Dahlstrom) with slatted sides. Care- 

 ful examination on the Chicago market showed that the berries 

 packed in the ventilated crates consistently arrived in better con- 

 dition, although in a few exceptional cases the reverse was true. 

 Labels were used in 1915 for the first time. Wholesalers interviewed 

 expressed themselves as pleased with the labeling of the crates and 

 believed it added to the selling: value. 



