MARKETING THE CROP 



525 



Well protected by foliage, grapes will withstand consider- 

 able cold. Once frosted, however, they shell badly and lose 

 their flavor. 



Marketing processes for the grape are marked by the de- 

 velopment of numerous cooperative associations in some sec- 

 tions. In Michigan, this de- 

 velopment is particularly 

 marked, with sales on an f.o.b. 

 basis. A cooperative associa- 

 tion in the Chautauqua and 

 Erie grape belt handled 895 

 cars of table grapes and fur- 

 nished nearly 10,000 tons to 

 grape- juice factories in one 

 season. 



Fruit from the chief pro- 

 ducing areas reaches the far 

 South and west to the prairie 

 states. The Pacific Northwest 

 is supplied chiefly by the state 

 of Washington^ which has de- 

 veloped a considerable indus- 

 try. There is need of better 

 distributive measures to serve 

 the whole area including the 

 smaller towns, rather than a 



iU. S. D. A,) 



Fig. 220. A grape-packing table for 

 one person when the fruit is not 

 packed in the vineyard. The grapes 

 from the field are placed on the table 

 under the shelf. The packer pulls 

 them forward, packing on the slop- 

 ing surface. The tray, or lug, con- 

 . taining cull grapes is pushed through 



limited number of large cen- the hole and taken out at the rear, 

 ters. The packed baskets are placed on 



Storage. Grapes will keep top of the shelf, 



for some days in cool, dry, and 



well-ventilated common storage. If the weather is sharply 

 cool, some varieties will keep for several weeks if in good con- 

 dition. Usually the market improves considerably with the 

 advent of such weather. Cold storage is desirable for longer 

 periods. A temperature of 30"^ F. has given satisfactory 

 results. 



