Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-23
A Letter From a New York
Dealer.
He Thinks the Outlook for the
Season Good.
Suggestions as to Methods of Pack
ing the Fruit.
A General Statement of the Condition of
the Eastern Markets-Prices
Likely to GO Lower.

letter.
At the request of one of your leading
citizens, and appreciating the fact that
your fruit-growers and shippers cannot
be too we'll informed as to the methods
used here to market your products, l
send few facts concerning the same.
New York as market takes more
fruit from every quarter of the globe
than any other two cities of the United
States. Up to the present time your
own fruits cut no figure with us, as COM
pared with what Chicago takes. From
the fact that the increase in consump-
ton has been in three years from 20 to
800 carloads, it seems very probable
that 1000 cars will be shipped here in a
few years and marketed at profitable
prices. 1t is preferable that the Cali
fornia fruit trade should increase in
natural manner, as have all the products
of every country, as thereby new outlets
keep apace, and gluts and bad prices are
avoided. As your readers know, the fruit
from your country comes to us in car
where The terminus of the Erie rail-
North river, in Jersey City. The train
which brings the fruit is due at 5.a. IN.
Assuming this is on time, the cars con-
tanning the fruit are switched to a cov-
cred platform, the doors of the cars un-
locked, when commences our part of the
work here. Very often 1 put ten men
every package contained therein (from
10 \ hoe ~
carefully received, placed upon my
boats, running to the New York side.
From the point OF arrival to my. ware
house is a journey of twenty minutes.
On arriving there a large force OF
porters quickly sort the different varie-
"lots." From each slot" is then taken
the total number in the slot" as samples
of the same. These samples are placed
on tables prepared especially for them,
upon each by the buyers. The catalogue
numbers on it that have been marked
upon the Sample" boxes; hence the
purchaser simply writes opposite the
these lots according to his idea of what
he is willing to pay for them. If the
car in question contains 100 'lots" of
fruit made up of the produce Of thirty
three different owners, each having a
parcel or lot of cherries, apricots and
peaches, then there would be on the
catalogue thirty-three parcels or lots Gas
we call them) of cherries, thirtythree
lots of apricots and thirty-four lots of
peaches, making up the 100 lots in dues
tion. There are engaged in handling
fruit in New York fully 10000 dealers.
The wholesale buyers number about 200
and supply the retailers and out-of-town
houses.
The Auction Sale.
In responses to the advertisement of
this sale, which l insert in the trade
and newspapers and by direct notice
sent by mail, the wholesale trade as
sembles at my place of business to make
the purchases needed. The inspection
on the part of the buyers having been
completed, the sale commences by ask
ing for a bid for the choice or, say,
thirtythree lots of cherries, the highest
bidder having the privilege of taking one
or all of the same. Naturally, however,
the best quality and conditioned fruit
is taken first. 1t is from the competi-
tion arising from the desire to secure
these that the high prices, often more
than the actual market values, ,are made.
The same mode of action follows in dis
posing of the apricots, peaches and any
other fruits that may have been shipped.
Showing one of the advantages of the
auction system, | would say that l have
sold car of California fruits in thirty
minutes, and the time that has oeen
taken between the arrival and
ultimate deliverey to the buyers, has
not exceeded two hours, an action most
essential in such perishable fruits.
That too great care cannot be taken in
packing and shipping the best grades,
properly sorted and packed, is illus
trated by the results made for A. T..
Hatch, of Suisun, who averaged 1904
per box for 10000 boxes of Bartlett
pears, and for R. D. Stephens, of Sacra-
mento, who averaged fo1 2,059 double
crates of Tokay grapes $4,91, and for
1883 single crates 1894; also for Vein
stock & Lubin, who got for l, 900 double
crates Tokays 1920, and for 2,297 single
crates $2.33; also for r. B. Blowers, who
averaged $4.31 for 995 double crates of
Tokay and Emperor grapes. Let every
grower remember that merit is always
recognized and paid for very literally
in the fruit business, while the careless
shipper is treated according to the strict
market value and his deserts.
Some Important Advice.
1t is impossible to give all the details
pursued in order to properly place and
distribute your products in our market
and its outlets, but that profitable re-
suits and great increase in consump-
ton have followed proves the value of
the same.
The future has bright prospects for a
profitable development for the California
fruit-growers, SO far as New York is con-
cerned. Coming at season when other
near by-grown products are not matured,
and when our market is bare of any
great variety of fruit, your products are
now eagerly looked for here. For the
complete success and best results, the
grower must make up his mind to spare
no pains to cultivate, pack and ship the
best fruits only. Throw away the in
ferior, and you will get more for what
you ship of the best than for double the
quantity where the inferior grades are
allowed to go in. Further cooperation
and concerted action ON the part of
growers and shippers are necessary, for
the reason that auDpliac to all mark re-