20 BULLETIN 861, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
in the car, inspect their quality, and sell them for the highest price 
obtainable. The grower usually allows the association to take full 
charge of the shipment, and payment is commonly made by pooling 
the returns of the shipment of each day and remitting to the growers 
in proportion to their haulings of the various sizes and varieties, 
after deducting a certain charge for expenses. The details of these 
business arrangements, which depend on the constitutions and by- 
laws of the various organizations, cover a wide range of conditions 
and are generally covered by a contract between the association and 
each of its individual members. In some cases growers are allowed 
entire freedom of action, in that they may market their crops through 
the associations or through outside agencies, as they see fit ; in others 
they are obligated to allow the association to handle all of their 
crops. Some associations charge their members on a percentage 
commission basis ; sometimes they make a fixed charge per basket or 
per ton. out of which the expenses of management must be borne. 
The profits,' if any, at the end of the shipping season are divided 
among the shareholders of the association or prorated among the 
shippers, according to the rules of each association. 
Most cooperative associations in the grape industry endeavor to 
sell at the loading station. Other methods, such as consignment and 
sales to juice factories, are practiced, but the great bulk of the stock 
is sold on telegraphic orders. 
Xotable examples' of cooperative grape shipping associations are to 
be found in the leading sections of Michigan, Xew York, and the 
Missouri Valley. While cooperation solves many problems, it will 
surely result in failure unless the two basic requirements are met : 
(1) Such an organization must be founded on some definite urgent 
need, and (2) the manager or director of such an enterprise must 
possess the requisite ability and knowledge of marketing conditions. 
SALES TO GRAPE-JUICE FACTORIES. 
The tremendous growth of the unfermented grape- juice industry 
during the past few years has established a most satisfactory market 
outlet for those growers whose vineyards are in close proximity to 
such factories. A large proportion of the tonnage produced in the 
Chautauqua-Erie belt, in Michigan, and in the Hudson River Valley 
is consumed in the manufacture of this product, and in the first dis- 
trict named nearly as much stock is consumed locally by factories as 
is shipped to outside points. 
The problems of marketing are reduced to a minimum for those 
growers who sell to juice factories. To some extent, both in Michi- 
gan and in Xew York, factories purchase their requirements from 
neighboring growers under contracts made before the grapes mature. 
