The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-23
The Imperfect Distribution of the
Strawbe,y Crop OF the Country.

".
The value of the strawberry crop of
the United States is something enormous.
1t has been estimated at 100000, 600 an
nually.
A large part of this is consumed by
the producers. Still an immense quantity
is grown for sale and shipped to market
far or near There is much congestion
of the strawberry crop on the great mar
kets. Far too large a proportion of the
crop goes to these markets and too little
to the smaller markets. The result is
in the aggregate an immense loss to the
grower.
This could be avoided by better dis
tribution. The fruit shipping ASSOCIATIONS
are doing much good in this line. They
keep in daily touch with the chief mar
kets of the country and distribute the
shipments of their members in such a
way that none of these markets shall be
glutted and none left bare.
Nevertheless this mode effective as it
is within certain limits, reaches only
the markets of the comparatively large
places. i The numberless towns of the
country are supplied at hap-hazard if at
all. Many of these are more or less
adequately supplied by local growers.
The majority of them if supplied at all
receive shipments of berries from the
large markets. Such fruit is always
more or less stale and scarcely ever in
a condition to promote the sale and use
of the strawberry, which, when ripe and
fresh is the most delicious and whole
some of fruits.
OF course the growers in the great
strawberry districts where hundreds or
thousands of acres are planted must dis
pose of their product by consignment to
the great markets. But many growers
are not so situated. They are scattered
about through the different States with
various villages and towns near at hand.
These villages and towns are actually
or potentially large consumers of berries.
The demand either exists or can be
created. 1t will pay berry growers we'll
TO cater to this trade and do their ut
most to promote it's growth.
Such markets as these being rarely
glutted prices are almost sure to be bet
ter than the larger markets. Then
freight, commission, and crates are
saved, as a grower usually delivers and
sells his own berries and gets back
most of the crates. Another great ad-
vantage of this mode of selling is that
frst-cass fruit and first-class handling
tells so much more than on the large
markets where the identity of ones ship
ment is swallowed up in the great aggre-
gate of berries from all quarters.
Selling near home, either in person or
by means of an employee, grower can
build up regular line of customers
which he can hold year after year as long
as he gives satisfaction. Some customers
WILL of course, buy from the cheapest
man, but the majority prefer to deal
with the most reliable one. People are
fastidious about their fruit. Far more
so than about their bread or meat. Fruit
should please the eye as we'll as the
palate The aesthetic element has more
or less to do with it's sale. People buy
it largely because it is pretty and fra
grant Stale fruit that has lost its color
and fragrance has small attraction for
them. They are not only willing to pay
more for ripe, fresh fruit but they con-
sumo more of it. A line of custom built
up for fruit is of course available for
other products at all seasons.
In my time I have seen some notable
instances of what a diligent and indus
trious man may accomplish in this line.
I have known men who failed in general
farming, or rather were conducting it az
a loss, to gradually devote part OF
their farm to fruit growing recover
themselves and make money. Such men
proceeded with judgment, charging their
acreage as their experience and knowI-
edge grew.
The capacity of even one very fertile,
perfectly cultivated acre, to produce
strawberries is almost incredible | have
known small, specially favored plants
to bear at the rate of 10000 quarts to
| the acre. This, it is hardly necessary to
say, was under very excellent condi-
lions. No such yield could be depended
on even with the richest soil and best
cultivation. But 5000 quarts to the acre
is easily within the range of the prob
able. A man with even one acre of such
berries needs only a fair market to clear
a good deal of money therefrom Even
at sc. quart his profit would be large.
But let him not be too eager to make
it all, Let him make it all If he can
but let him proceed about it with wis
dom. Let him expand gradually paying
as he goes and remembering that the
race is not always to the swift but often
est to the diligent and persistent. A
hare once pitted himself against a tor
toise and got beat. If the records we're
more complete we would doubtless find
that more bares have been beaten by
tortoises than we ever dreamed.