The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-20
FRUIT DISTINCTION.

The question of the distribution OF
California fruit in distant markets is the
most interesting and important local cur
rent discussion. The suggestion made to
/ the State Board of Trade by Mr.. w. H.
Mills, that the need is for direct instead
of indirect communication with large
/ body Of consumers; the distribution not
! to few great commercial centers as now
practiced, but the reaching into large
number Of smaller communities which,
IN the aggregate, represent the largest
body of those who will be consumers OF
California fruits if they can but obtain
them, has commanded attention through
out the State, and the result cannot be
otherwise than beneficial.
We may reasonably expect that out of
the consideration now given to the sub
/ jcet viii be evolved a system that will
enable the California fruit-grower to
reach from five to seven times the num-
Der Of people now accessible to him.
In letter to the San Francisco Bulletin
On this subject Mr.. Mills remarks:
1t is not enough that the fruits of Califor-
ma are actually carried to an Eastern city of
/ 100000 or 100000 Inhabitants; the prob
/ lem includes also the carriage at such rates
and under such commercial conditions as
viii enable the purchaser TO buy them in sue
ceSsiul competitor with other foods or other
necessities. 50 long as they are offere d in the
market at such prices as relegate them TO the
! list OF luXuries alone, we are not making them
accessible OF q rnN5 Iay-i1,,
! the price at which our fruits have been offered
! at Eastern markets, we have not made them
/ accessible 10 100000 consumers. Take the
( price received by the producer for fruit; add
! 10 that the actual cost of distribution; and to
j the aggregate then arrived at add rs or so
/ per cent. for mercantile profit; and the pop
ulatlonS before whom we have placed our
/ fruit would consume ten times the quantity
! now consumed.
What I have sought to impress. with an
/ earnest desire that our, in my opinion great
/ est industry may have due appre .iaJion. is
4 the possibility at an early day of finding forty
or fifty million consumers for our fruits /
! believe the time has now come when a special
! equipment adapted to this purpose can be
/ economically introduced and used. Ii has
/ been objected that fruits sents in refrigerator
/ cars cannot be opened without injury To
! the cargo but this difficulty can be We V easily
overcome by making compartment cars for
/ distribution along the line-in short con-
/ Structing an equipment for this especial serY-
! ice. We have in our capacity for iruit-grow-
! ing, In the excellent condition of the fruit it.
! self, in the peculiar qualities conferred upon
/ the fruit by rpening IN dry electrical atnlOs-
phere. thus conserving their shipping quail
! ties by adding 10 their durability, q prospec-
/ tive whealth which think even vet has not
! been duly appreciated by our people.
Some two years ago, when this subject,
as to one of the phases of distribution, was
under consideration, the idea was adj
vanced that by a system of introducing
agencies in towns and cities the Califor-
MIA fruit products, green, dried and
canned might find large consumption, if
they were taken direct to the homes of
the people to secure their introduction
and create a taste for them. Just how
far this idea of sample carriage from
house to house and street-door sale might
be made successful is predetermined. 1t
has virtue, and may in supplemental
way relate materially to the proposition
to send our fruit to the greater number of
consumers by distribution in lesser COM
munities. The subject is one fraught
with such profound interest that the
further development promised by ex-
pected details to be laid before the State
Board of Trade will be awaited with al
most nervous Impotence.