AMERICAN FRUIT AND PRODUCE AUCTIONS 
These outstanding requirements are met by practically all products 
that have become well established on the auctions. Juice grapes 
constitute a notable exception. Although the many varieties of juice 
grapes are extremely variable in quality, and although recognized 
grades for grapes are only beginning to come into general use, never- 
theless this commodity is sold on a large scale at auction. The 
extensive use of the auctions by sellers of grapes may be accounted 
for, perhaps, by the constant supply of this commodity moving in 
large volume during its shipping season, and the unprecedented 
demand during the past few years. 
Containers for auction commodities should be well made, neat, 
and clean, and when opened should show the contents attractively. 
Each package should bear a label with a distinctive brand name, in 
order that the shipment may be distinguished readily from the offer- 
ings of other shippers. The label should always represent depend- 
Fig. 4. — A cargo of foreign lemons unloaded and stacked on one of the New York piers 
able, uniform quality, because the factors which determine the value 
of the product are associated in the buyer's mind with the identifica- 
tion mark on the package. The purchaser is forced to base his judg- 
ment as to prices on the value of the sample displayed, and unless he 
has the assurance that it fairly represents the lot he must figure on a 
sufficient margin to cover the additional risk. 
The frequency with which a commodity appears at the auction 
sales is a factor that has a great influence on the results obtained. A 
uniform product that is exhibited in volume before the auction 
buyers regularly during its season, sooner or later will be sought after 
by them as a regular source of supply. Intermittent shipments can 
not be expected to bring the most satisfactory returns. A constant 
supply will draw more buyers, thereby increasing the opportunities 
for sale and widening the distribution, and in time should result in 
higher prices than if the supply is small and irregular. 
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