fresh fruit more efficiently by providing information on (l) the effect of 

 selected types of packages and displays on retail sales of grapes and pears, 

 apples and oranges of premium quality and size, medium-size oranges, and grape- 

 fruit; (2) the comparative costs of labor and packaging materials for the dif- 

 ferent types of packages and displays; and (3) the relative effectiveness of 

 the selected types of packages and displays in maintaining quality of the pack- 

 aged products. 



PROCEDURE 



Research pertaining to sales effectiveness of the packages and displays 

 was conducted through controlled experiments in selected retail supermarkets 

 operated by a corporate chain in Minneapolis -St. Paul, Minn, kj Merchandising 

 practices used by the stores, such as prices, allocation of space, and location 

 of displays, were either held constant or changed simultaneously and to the 

 same degree in all test stores. 



Grapes in the displays tested were packaged (l) in cellophane overwrapped 

 trays (1^ pounds) and (2) in handle -type (or home toter) open bags (1^ pounds). 

 For pears, the sales effectiveness of cellophane overwrapped trays was compared 

 with that of cellophane sleevewrapped trays. Each package contained six pears. 



A switch back experimental design, using eight stores and two replications 

 over time, was used to test the consumer acceptance of selected packages for 

 grapes and pears. (See appendix, tables 3 and k, for outline of experimental 

 design. ) 



The latin square experimental design, using six stores and six time periods 

 (1 week each), was used to test the acceptance of four types of packages and 

 two types of displays for premium quality apples (Red Delicious, Golden Deli- 

 cious, and Winesap varieties, sizes 125 to 88, and premium quality California 

 oranges, size 88. (See appendix, table 5> for experimental design.) Four types 

 of packages and two types of displays were tested in this experiment. The fruit 

 used to test these six merchandising methods were priced in units of six and 

 were displayed as follows : 



1. Cellophane sleevewrapped trays (no bulk fruit) 



2. Cellophane overwrapped trays (no bulk fruit) 



3. Cellophane sleevewrapped trays and bulk fruit 

 k. Cellophane overwrapped trays and bulk fruit 



5. Open trays (no wrapping material or holding tape) and bulk fruit 



6. Polyethylene bags and bulk fruit 



Methods 1 and 2 were compared with methods 3 and k (same type of packages) 

 to obtain the relative sales effectiveness of displays of packaged fruit and 

 displays combining packaged and bulk fruit. Comparisons were also made among 

 methods 3> k t 5 t and 6 and between methods 1 and 2. 



The latin square design was also used to test the sales effectiveness of 

 various types of displays for medium-size oranges and size 96 Florida grape- 

 fruit. The displays tested consisted of (l) all fruit packaged in polyethylene 



57 The produce departments of the sample stores were 100 percent self- 

 service . 



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