76 BULLETIN 1416, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
fourths of our surplus apples, while the largest percentage of dried 
apples goes to the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavian countries. 
Comparatively few growers and small shippers care to incur the 
risk and delay of exporting. The business is mostly in the hands of 
a few concerns with foreign connections. These receive fruit for 
export on commission or buy it through their agents from growers, 
associations, and dealers and sell most of the apples at auction. 
Exports require 4 to 12 per cent of the total commercial crop of the 
United States. 
Market forecasts are based chiefly on crop reports with some 
allowance for variation in competing sections and varieties. Crop. 
and market reports are issued by the United States Department of 
Agriculture and by various Federal and State offices in market 
centers and in producing regions. 
A main advantage of the barrel fwe is its comparatively easy 
access to the great markets, and for this reason it should be able to 
hold its own. However, the increasing proportion of high-grade 
fruit in the market is gradually driving out apples not well-grown, 
well-sorted, and well-packed. Only the product of the well-man- 
aged commercial orchards in sections with some advantages of 
climate, soil, and location seems to have much chance to survive 
intense competition. 
