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REPORT OF THE FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING 



een months, and for several years previous to that time was con- 

 ducted only under great difficulties, owing to political disturbances 

 in that country, whereby lines of transportation were constantly 

 subject to temporary interruption or entire destruction. 



Some seven years ago I began the shipping of ahuacates from 

 Mexico to United States points, confining my markets for the first 

 several years to cities of the South, Middle West and California. 

 Later, when the overland routes were not available, it was neces- 

 sary to utilize the water lines into New York, from where I found 

 it quite practicable to reship to cities from Boston to San Francisco. 



Since February 27th, 1914, the small, thin-skinned fruit of the 

 ahuacate, from Mexico and the countries of Central America, are 

 prohibited entry into the United States, while the large varieties, 

 known generally throughout Mexico as pagua, may only be 

 imported under certain restrictions, and confined to regions 

 where there will be no danger of infection resulting from entry of 

 the fruit. In other words, the Mexican ahuacate is contraband in 

 California and Florida, and under existing restrictions and condi- 

 tions its importation into any part of the United States is practically 

 prohibited. 



As the ahuacate is comparatively unknown, the market at pres- 

 ent is quite limited. I found the demand for this fruit greater in 

 San Francisco and Los Angeles, in proportion to population, than 

 in any other cities of the United States, with the possible exception 

 of New Orleans and San Antonio. This is no doubt due to the 

 fact that this fruit is better known here, haA^ng been imported from 

 Hawaii and the South Seas for some years, besides having been 

 grown here in limited quantities. This suggests the necessity and 

 importance of publicity; of introduction, of demonstration. Com- 

 paratively few people acquire a fondness for the fruit at first, even 

 when properly introduced to it ; but when served to them in an in- 

 different or improper manner it requires years to fully appreciate 

 its true value. 



In marketing the ahuacate from Mexico, several points have 

 been brought out which may be of interest. First of all, the Ameri- 

 can market demands a large or "fancy" fruit ; almost to the exclu- 

 sion of the smaller varieties; and often size is the ruling factor, 

 even at the expense of flavor. This applies especially to Eastern 

 cities, where I found it difficult to market the smaller sizes at a 



