KINDS OF PACKAGES 161 



hold this water in the fruit or the vegetable will not only 

 improve its quality but will increase the price which it will 

 bring when it is placed upon the market. 



Certain crops must be washed and graded before they are 

 packed. Whenever washing is necessary, handle the produce 

 carefully and do not scratch or tear the skin. Any injury to 

 the skin gives an opportunity for mould and bacteria to get 

 into the injured part and the product will rot. The marring 

 of the skin in any way also detracts from the looks of the 

 package. Some crops like the radishes and the carrots must 

 not only be washed but they must be graded and tied in 

 bunches before they are sent to the market. The harvesting, 

 grading, washing and packing should be done without delay 

 and as soon as the crop is taken from either the plant or the 

 soil. 



Grading Produce. — All of our fruits and vegetables should be 

 graded. The chief reason for grading is the poor impression 

 a mixed lot of produce gives to the buyer. A few large apples 

 or potatoes in a barrel do not add to the value of the pack- 

 age but only emphasize the lack of uniformity of the lot. In 

 grading pick out all of the large specimens as well as the small 

 ones and make the carrier contain produce of one size. This 

 method of grading makes the package uniform, attracts the 

 eye and pleases the buyer. It is not always the large speci- 

 mens that bring the best price, but rather the uniform 

 appearance of the package that is of the greatest value. 



Kinds of Packages. — The style of package varies greatly 

 and is determined by the product to be packed. Fruit is 

 usually packed in either boxes or barrels. The size of the 

 boxes vary, but they usually hold approximately one bushel 

 of fruit. Box apples are generally fancy fruit. In the 

 eastern fruit-growing sections the barrel is the usual package 

 for apples while in the western regions the box is the most 

 popular. The barrel holds about three bushels and is very 

 convenient for storage and for shipment. 



Vegetables are packed in many different styles of vessels 



and many high-class products are placed in special baskets 



or cartons. A few crops as, for example, the cabbage is 



marketed in ventilated barrels, which are made by cutting 



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