The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-07-22
Horticulture.
THE IMPERFECT DISTRIBUTION OF THE
STRAWBERRY CROP OF THE
COUNTRY.

The value of the strawberry crop
of the United States is something
enormous. It has been estimated at
$1OO,OOO,OOO annually.
A large part of this is consumed by
the producers. Still an immense
quantity is grown for sale and ship
ped to market far or near. There is
much congestion of the strawberry
crop on the great markets. 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 asso-
Citations are doing much good in this
line. They keep in daily touch with
the chief markets 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 in within certain limits, reaches
only the markets of the comparative
ly large places. The numberless
towns of the country are supplied at
haphazard, if at all. Many of these
are more or less adequately supplied
by local growers. The majority of
them if supplied at all receive re-
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
wholesome of fruits
Of course the growers in the great
strawberry districts where hundreds
or thousands of acres are planted must
dispose of their product by consign-
ment to the great markets. But many
growers are not so situated. They
are scattered about through the diff
ferent States with various villages
and towns near at hand. These vii
lagos and towns are actually or po-
tentially large consumers of berries
The demand either exists or can be
created. 1t will pay berry growers
well to cater to this trade and do their
utmost to promote it's growth.
| Such markets as these being rarely
glutted prices are almost sure to be
better 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 advantage of this mode of sell
ing is that frst-class fruit and first
class handling tells so much more than
on the large markets where the iden-
tity of ones shipment is swallowed up
in the great aggregate of berries from
all quarters.
Selling near home, either in person
or by means of an employee, a grower
can build up a regular line of custo-
mers 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 ma
jority prefer to deal with the most re-
liable one, People are fastidious
about their fruit far more so than
about their bread or meat. Fruit
should please the eye as well as the
palate. The aesthetic element has
more or less to do with its sale. Peo-
pie buy it largely because it is pretty
and fragrant. 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 consume 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 sen some notable
instances of what a diIigent and in
dustrious man may accomplish in this
line. I have known men who failed
in general farming, or rather were
conducting it at a loss, to gradually
devote a part of their farm to fruit
growing, recover themselves and make
money. Such men proceeded with
judgment, enlarging their acreage as
their experience and knowledge grew.
The capacity of even one very fer