would probably mean that wholesale carlot receivers or other dealers would have 
to set up reconditioning and packing equipment for packaging fruits and vege- 
tables for distribution to the stores. Produce as it is received from the cars is 
generally not of a quality satisfactory to consumers. Decayed or otherwise badly 
defective or damaged specimens would have to be sorted out in order to meet 
consumer acceptance and the requirements of any official standards that might be 
issued. Possibly some products might be packed in consumer packages at 
shipping points, particularly if they were transported by. airplane or for short 
distances by fast freight or express. cee 
Obviously, if produce is to be packed in consumer-sized packages in accord- 
ance with official consumer standards, the packages would have to be marked 
with the grade designation and date. of packing in order to have any significance 
to the consumer. After a certain period of time has elapsed after packing, any 
product will deteriorate to the point where it will not meet the requirements of 
any established grade. Retailers would have to give more attention to fruits 
and vegetables in reconditioning packages labeled as to grade, and either replace 
those which have deteriorated-or remove or strike out the grade markings on the 
package. 
Consumers, on the other hand, should not expect to find all of the contents 
perfect’ just because the package carries a Grade A label, because in the many 
handlings from the grower to the retail store some produce 1s bound to be injured. 
Some of it may show slight imperfections owing to climatic and cultural condi- 
tions which do not materially affect the product for home use. A consumer, 
however, should not be expected to accept more than a very small percentage 
of decayed or badly damaged fruits and vegetables in packages bearing an official 
grade designation. Success or failure in selling produce to consumers in small 
packages marked as to grade will depend largely upon the extent to which the 
products actually meet the requirements of the grades as labeled at the time of 
purchase. 
28 
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1946 
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