156 COOPERATIVE MARKETING 



injuries. In the packing house, fruit was injured in the 

 washer or brusher, in the drying racks, and in fact all 

 through the various packing processes. Mr. G. Harold 

 Powell, who was in charge of the Government's investiga- 

 tions, soon showed that there was nothing mysterious about 

 decay, that it was simply due to blue mold spores entering 

 mechanically injured fruit. He also showed that a house 

 could have as much or as little decay as it wanted. With 

 careful picking, careful and prompt packing, and shipping 

 under the proper temperature conditions, practically all de- 

 cay would be eliminated. 



When the associations learned that little or no decay 

 developed in sound fruit the response was prompt and gen- 

 eral. Pickers and packers were instructed to use care in 

 the various operations and were supervised to see that the 

 instructions were followed. Picking was placed more and 

 more under the control of the house. The packing ma- 

 chinery was simplified, and general improvements in pack- 

 ing and shipping procedure were introduced until now 

 decay in transit is no longer a bugbear. Some associations 

 with the strictest supervision and best packing equipment 

 now go through an entire season with less than i per cent, 

 decay, while formerly lo per cent, decay was not at all un- 

 usual. In fact the cooperative organizations go further 

 and are not satisfied merely to have their shipments arrive 

 in good condition. If decay starts soon after unloading, 

 jobbers and retailers will be reluctant to handle the fruit, 

 so the aim of associations is now to put out a product which 

 will remain sound until ample time for consumption is 

 afforded. In meetings of the associations, district ex- 

 changes and central exchange the importance of good fruit 

 properly handled is constantly emphasized, and the organ- 

 ization of the industry makes possible the widest utiliza- 

 tion of such improvements as those worked out by the 



