164 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 
The seasons of the year effect the demand in that 
most of the buyers in the large cities want fruit only in 
its normal season. In the spring, everyone is anxious 
to get strawberries, and while they may be had later in 
the year, the demand is greatest in the spring because 
of the habit of people buying fruit only when in season. 
This has led producers to a great rush to get fruit for 
the early market, realizing that the prices would be 
higher because of the increased demand. This has re- 
acted unfavorably against some of the Southern states 
so that they, in their haste to get fruit on the early 
market, have permitted themselves to pick it before it is 
sufficiently matured. As a consequence, the flavor and 
quality of the fruit was a disappointment to the pur- 
chaser and, through this means, certain fruit districts 
in the South and the West have become unpopular. 
Lastly, the supply of other fruits affects the demand 
through the price of the various kinds. For example, 
when oranges can be had more cheaply on the general 
market than apples, most of the consumers will buy the 
oranges; when the apples become cheaper they will buy 
those, and when bananas are reduced below either or- 
anges or apples the probability is that the demand will 
increase for the bananas and decrease for the others. 
When considering the price paid for fruit, several 
important factors appear which are also associated with 
supply and demand. These could be enumerated as fol- 
lows: (1) Quantity of fruit offered. (2) Quality of 
fruit offered. (3) General prosperity of the country. 
(4) The attractiveness of the fruit. (5) The condition 
of the market. 
If the quantity of the fruit is large the price is apt 
