PACKAGES FOR VEGETABLES 



83 



an even dozen heads is much better, being easily handled, 

 stacking well, and displaying the snowy curd to fullest ad- 

 vantage. One of the arguments in favor of the box which 

 is beginning to be apparent to the Long Island people is the 

 fact that the Western New York product in such a package 

 is gaining a very firm hold on the Pittsburgh market. 



The same improvement in package has already taken place 

 among muck land lettuce men. A box carrying two dozen 

 first grade heads has largely replaced the hamper, this latter 

 being used only for seconds and culls. Thus, the producer 

 of high grade lettuce can no longer afford to put his primes 

 or even ungraded stock in a package which is not distinguish- 

 able from the one which contains low grade goods. 



Standardization. 



It is best to use the standard package if it is a good one. 

 The cost is lower, it is known on the markets, and labor is 

 usually familiar with its packing and handling. However, 

 if a change is desirable, it can ordinarily be successfully 

 made, even in the face of some opposition. The merit of the 

 contents will carry it through if good business methods are 

 employed, and the package itself becomes a conspicuous mark 

 of distinction from the ordinary product. 



Cost. 



The final test of a package is its cost. No matter how 

 excellent it may be, we cannot afford to use a package that 

 reduces rather than increases the net profit. The cost is re- 

 duced by buying early in large quantity and by careful scru- 

 tiny of quotations from many sources. 



Grading. 



The price that is paid for a basket of tomatoes or a ship- 

 ment of lettuce or a car of cabbage is not determined by the 

 best that is there but rather by the poorest. Suppose your- 

 self on the market expecting to purchase tomatoes. You see 

 a bit of juice dripping from the bottom of a crate. This 

 might come from a single tomato. Nevertheless, your con- 

 clusion is that there are many more such. At the very best, 



