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Economics and Marketing 



Calif. Economic Factors in the Selection of Products cmd Markets 

 and in Plant Location and Organization in the Freezing of 

 California Fruits and Vegetables . To (1) leeirn physical and 

 economic relations in the assembly of product and operation of 

 freezing plants for western fruits and vegetables, such as: 

 effects on costs of these factors a. processing methods and 

 plant organization, b. type and number of products handled in 

 a single plant, c, plant location and scale of operation; (2) 

 learn supply, demand, and price relations for frozen fruits 

 and vegetables, including: a, q.usuitification of major deter- 

 minants of prices and regional rates of consumption, and b. 

 projection of changes in regional rates of consumption in 

 response to changes in population, incomes, prices, and tastes; 

 (3) learn competitive position of California frozen fruit and 

 vegetable industry in the national market; emd, (k) project 

 efficient pattern of growth of industry, 



Agr. Econ. 1571 Coop. AMS (WM-17. See Part ik, Section b) 



Calif. Costs and Efficiency in the Marketing of Selected California 

 Fruits and Vegetables . To (1) determine basic physical and 

 economic relationships involved in the operation of deciduous 

 fruit packing houses; (2) indicate how changes in work methods 

 and type of equijanent and in-plant organization will affect 

 efficiency and costs; and, (3) on the basis of above, develop 

 practical means for improving efficiency in operation of Cali- 

 fornia deciduous fruit packing houses. 

 Agr, Econ. 157^^ Coop. AMS 



Calif . Engineering, Qualitative and Economic Studies of the Pack - 

 aging, Handling and Shipping of Deciduous Fruit . To (l) develop 

 new containers, suitable equipment and improved techniques for 

 packaging and handling deciduoiis fruit, and deteraiine how these 

 developments influence plant operations, packing and shipping 

 costs euad quality of product at consxaner level; (2) determine 

 basic laws underlying volume fill in containers for various shapes 

 and sizes; (3) work with container manufacturers in developing 

 suitable containers stnd standardizing packages as soon as basic 

 principles are established; (k) develop improved equiiment for 

 more accxirate sizing of fruit if needed; (5) if sorting on basis 

 of color becomes necessary, apply known principle of electronic 

 color sorting; (6) study car loading patterns to determine best 

 arreuagements for full or partial shipnents on containers of 

 various types; (7) determine best methods of pre-cooling fruit 

 packed, or to be packed, in varioiis type containers; (8) keep con- 

 tinuous record of condition and quality of fruit from time it 

 leaves tree tmtil reaching final consumer; (9) study influence of 

 maturity on handling and packaging; and, (10 ) make economic 

 studies of pilot pcuiking lines to compare with studies of con- 

 ventional methods. 



Agr. Engin., Poaol., Econ. 1579 



