iar] 
LOCAL DEALERS. 
Before any systematic efforts can be put forth to increase the 
production of truck crops and fruits it is necessary for the pro- 
ducer to know something about how his produce will be received 
on the market. In order to get some first-hand information on 
this point, interviews were held with the leading grocers and com- 
mission merchants of Honolulu. It was found that a very grati- 
fying uniformity of opinion is held by all of these men. They 
prefer to handle Island produce, rather than imported produce, if 
the former can be obtained in satisfactory condition and with 
regularity. No prejudice was found to prevail anywhere against 
Island produce; on the contrary, the trade takes kindly to it and 
asks for it by preference. It is easy to understand why this con- 
dition should be true. There is a natural sentiment among deal- 
ers and consumers in favor of using home-grown products. This 
sentiment alone, however, would not carry us very far if the 
quality of home-grown produce were not satisfactory. It is pos- 
sible to obtain fruits and vegetables in better condition from island 
sources than from the mainland. While the methods of cold- 
storage have been so perfected as to enable most perishable ma- 
terials to be carried for long periods in good condition, neverthe- 
less, materials carried in cold storage deteriorate rapidly upon be- 
ing exposed for sale. The delicacy of flavor, which characterizes 
perfectly fresh fruits and vegetables, is soon lost and the ma- 
terials soon begin to wilt and lose in appearance, as well as flavor. 
The one serious trouble for the dealer in Honolulu in handling 
Island produce is the irregularity with which it arrives in the 
city, and therefore, the uncertainty of obtaining a constant supply 
which will meet the needs of the trade. For this reason, dealers 
are forced to import fruits and vegetables in order to protect their 
own business. There is no other way of overcoming the con- 
stant differences, which tend to appear between the supply and 
demand, except by having the supply for the city of Honolulu 
come to one point where it can be held and from where it can 
be distributed to dealers. 
MAINLAND MARKETS. 
Thus far we have spoken only of local markets ; and evidence 
has been presented to show that even the demands of our local 
markets are not met by the present local production of fruits and 
vegetables. If, however, a method should be adopted for hand- 
