MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. 21 
which specify definitely the price to be paid, but the common method 
of sale is a contract to purchase the grower's entire crop at the market 
price prevailing on the day of delivery. 
Confusion sometimes arises as to just what the market price is, 
particularly when the consumption by juice factories is so great that 
few bulk grapes are sold for outside shipment. This occurred in 
Michigan in 1918 and to a less extent at the beginning of the season 
of 1918 in the Chautauqua-Erie belt. As no ratio between the price 
of 4-quart baskets and that of stock shipped in 12-quart baskets or 
trays has ever been established, it is usually left to the juice factories 
to pay what they think proper. Such situations are unfortunate, as 
they furnish a chance for unfair practices, but in the main the leaders 
of the grape- juice industry have the interests of the grower at heart 
and may be relied on to pay a fair price for what they buy. A still 
more effective insurance of a fair return to the grower is the fact 
that the production of grape juice has not of late years equaled the 
trade requirements. This has caused a very healthy competition be- 
tween the various factories for the products of the vineyardist. 
Most of the grapes used by juice factories are produced within 
hauling distance, but in 1918, on account of the short crop, much 
stock was received by shipment, both by short hauls from within the 
same district and by long hauls, as between Michigan and Westfield, 
N. Y., and between Chautauqua County and Highland, N. Y. 
The common grape trays, usually owned by the factory, are the 
standard package for grape- juice stock, though 12-quart Climax 
baskets are often employed, into which grapes are picked directly 
from the vines. Sales of stock in baskets are generally made on the 
basis of the gross weight ; that is, with the baskets included. 
While juice factories generally prefer to buy from the grower, 
they do not confine their purchases to this source, but sometimes send 
out representatives, who buy from local dealers or cooperative asso- 
ciations or purchase stock on telegraphic orders. Growers in out- 
lying sections who are able to ship in carload quantities would do 
well to investigate the possibilities of this method of sale. On ac- 
count of its acidity, the Concord comprises the great bulk of the 
grape- juice stock, but the Worden is sometimes used, and the Clinton 
is recommended as a valuable variety for this purpose. 
FREE-ON-BOARD SALES. 
In the early days of the grape-shipping industry, sales were made 
almost exclusively at the point of destination. Of late years the 
tendency has been toward the other extreme, until the great bulk of 
shipments from the more important grape-growing sections are now 
sold f. o. b. point of origin. 
