DISTRIBUTION OF POULTRY PRODUCTS 295 



materially from each other. The retail poultry market 

 might be defined as follows: The distribution of goods 

 through retail channels means the selling of poultry products 

 in rather small amounts by the producer direct to the con- 

 sumer. Here the middleman or distributor is not a factor. 

 The distribution of poultry products through wholesale 

 channels means the shipping of large quantities of poultry 

 and eggs to commission merchants or agents. These middle- 

 men, or agents, dispose of the goods for a commission. 

 Products sold at wholesale are usually shipped in large 

 quantities to the large centers of population. 



Retail Markets. — Retail markets, as a rule, are supplied 

 by the small producer, especially when a good market is 

 near at hand . Such a market is 

 very profitable, if the product 

 is of fine quality. Two distinct 

 methods prevail in private or 

 retail trade. First, the prod- 

 uce is prepared for the cus- 

 tomer by the producer himself. 

 If eggs, they are carefully 

 graded at home. If market 

 poultry, it is usually dressed, 

 drawn and delivered ready for 

 cooking. In the second place, 

 the producer himself usually 

 delivers the product direct to 

 the consumer. The advan- 

 tages of retail trade might 

 be enumerated as follows: 

 First, the product is usually 

 of superior quality when it 

 reaches the consumer's hands, 

 delivery upon short notice being a decided advantage of 

 local markets (Fig. 164). The short haul, or short time 



Fig. 164. — This young man is start- 

 ing out to deliver eggs and poultry pro- 

 duced by Ms own flock to near-by 

 neighbors and customers. Such a route 

 offers great opportunities to the boy or 

 girl wishing to keep a few birds which 

 shall be their own. 



