AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
182 
THE VALUE OF A DISTINCTIVE APPLE PACKAGE FOR EASTERN 
FRUIT. 
f C. D. Jarvis, Connecticut. 
The success of the western apple grower in the eastern market has been 
phenomenal. The contributing causes were mainly three; one, good fruit; 
two, honest and careful packing; three, a distinctive package. All three 
factors were necessary, but the third was especially necessary to guard 
against the possibility of the consumer confusing the western fruit with that 
of the East which he had come to look upon with some degree of suspicion. 
The chief concern of the western grower, therefore, was to obtain a package 
decidedly different from the barrel and yet possessing its safe handling 
characters. The box was the natural result. 
Many apple-growing regions have attempted to gain prominence by 
imitating the western methods. They have produced good fruit and they 
have packed it carefully and honestly. Most of the imitators have failed 
in the adoption of a distinctive package. Many have adapted the western 
box, with the belief that this particular type of package was the determining 
factor. Others have taken to its use believing that they might lead the 
consumer into paying a high price for what appeared to be western fruit. 
This is undoubtedly a short-sighted policy for the quality of eastern fruit is 
such that if properly handled will sell on its own merits. This fact was 
clearly demonstrated last season when many boxed apples from the "West 
were repacked into barrels after reaching the eastern markets. 
It is true that the box possesses many of the qualifications of a good 
apple package, but it has some shortcomings. It requires an expert to pack 
apples in boxes and the process is exacting and expensive. The western 
grower on account of his remoteness from market was limited in his choice 
and the box was undoubtedly the best package he could have chosen for 
his purpose. 
The eastern grower should not turn down the box package solely on 
account Of its shortcomings, but especially on account of its being used as 
a container for western fruits. There is little doubt that when properly 
grown and carefully packed the eastern-grown apples of the high-quality 
varieties, like McIntosh and Northern Spy, are more likely to please the 
trade than the western product. The opportunity of the east, therefore, 
is in the growing of apples of high-quality and packing them in such a way 
that there will be no possibility of the consumer confusing them with the 
western-grown fruit. 
The Barre*! is Distinctly Eastern. 
The barrel is regarded in the market as an eastern package and when 
the consumer buys apples from a barrel he expects to get eastern fruit. 
The barrel therefore serves the purpose of conveying to the consumer in a 
general way the geographical source of the fruit. All that remains foi- the 
eastern grower is to clear this type of package of its shady reputation. 
