1920.] 



Apple Packexg. 



1021 



the photographs pubUshed with this note were taken at the 

 Cambridge Commercial Fruit Show at the suggestion of the 

 Board. The variation in the quality of the packing at this 

 Show was astounding. These photographs do not in any way 

 exaggerate this regrettable lack of uniformity. 



No matter what package is used, there is a right and wrong 

 method of packing, and the following essential points must be 

 strictly adhered to if the produce is to look attractive when it 

 arrives at the wholesale market : — 



1. HONEST GRADING, both as to size and quahty— 



no "topping.'' 



2. FULL PACKAGES AND FIRM PACKING.— The 



fruits should be packed so that each is held in position 

 by its neighbours. Only in this way can the package 

 be filled and bruising of the fruit reduced to a 

 minimum. 



3. THE MINIMUM USE OF PACKING MATERIAL 



required to prevent bruising those apples which touch 

 the side of the package. 



Not only does strict adherence to these essentials ensure the 

 fruit arriving at the market in an attractive condition, but, 

 equally important, an impression is soon made on the buyers 

 and their confidence is obtained. Filling the packages com- 

 pletely is most important in this connection. Growers who do 

 not attend the markets and see their produce sold never realise 

 the importance of gaining the complete confidence of the final 

 wholesale purchaser of their produce. They do not appraise 

 the value to themselves of this sense of security to the purchaser 

 in terms of pounds, shillings and pence. 



The time a retail buyer is able to spend in the market 

 purchasing his supplies is, of necessit}', very hmited, and if a 

 large quantity of fruit has to be purchased extra time cannot 

 be wasted in estimating carefully the proportion of sound and 

 unsound, or large and small fruit in an ungraded sample. If 

 the retail buyer must buy ungraded and badly- packed fruit he 

 only gives a price which, from his point of view, is safe to 

 produce a profit after allowing for waste. Such a price is 

 always a poor one to the grower. On the other hand, fruit well 

 packed and graded soon gets a name for the grower. The 

 buyer knows that he can rely on the sample and can buy without 

 undue risk, even on the consignment note. Further, compe- 

 tition amongst buyers is promoted and the salesman, by taking 

 advantage of this, is able to return an enhanced price. 



Attention is called to the following points brought out in 

 the illustrations : — 



