The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27
TRADE IN APPLES.
England Is the Best Customer for
American Orchards.
Portland CMe.) Press.

Portland CMe.) Press.
1t is doubtful If it is generally under
stood what the comparison is between the
apples raised in this country for export
and those used for home consumption. The
published statements from week to week
show that the various American and Cana
dian ports shipping from 1900 TO 10000
barrels of apples per week. While this is
a large quantity of apples to ship to Eu-
rope when compared with the total crop
raised il is a mere bagatelle. In fact the
apples raised for export in the past few
years. which have been the reeord-break-
ing years so far the export business is
concerned, have only been from l to per
cent. OF the entire crop raised.
The apple export business is at its height
in November, although the
mences in July and continues through until
the next April, but the bulk of the apples
which in some years have been as high as
100000 bushels, have been shipped from
the 1st of September up to the LIST of Janu-
airy; Formerly ~ per cent or the entire
trade was done in the autumn months
alone.
During the past few years. because of
the important part that the cold storage
plays in the apple business and improve
ment In methods of packing and handling
the fruit has tended 70 Drolong the sea-
son for heavy expectation of apples and
other fruits. There are several ports in
the United States and Canada that handle
apples for export, but the bulk of the ap-
pies are shipped from Boston and New
York, these two cities handling about 80 or
90 per cent of the total output. The other
points OF noteworthy Importance in the
trade are the cities of San Francisco and
The bulk of California trade is moved
east by rail. In the years 190l-19O2 there
were upwards of 1900 cars shipped across
the continent To the Eastern markets for
shipment. as against 739 cars in 1900. As a
rule, about one-fifth of the annual ship
ments by rail from California are destined
for Great Britain. and consist largely of
NewtowD pippins, variety whose color size
and flavor make them popular in the Eng
llsh markets. The English people like an
apple green in color, while red is preferred
by the Germans and russets by the French.
To get an idea of the apple shipments
the government statistics for the past four
years show cOnciusivelg what is being done
I'm the export business. In the year 1899
from the ports of Boston, New York San
Francisco, Portland and several smaller
while in 1900 the business nearly doubled
these ports sending 20 Europe 526 636 barrels
while again in. in 1901 the business took a jump,
when SS30I3 barrels were sent out. :
Last year t. apple crop was poor, so
only .119 barrels were shipped.
In 1900 the country produced 5S,466,OOO bar
rels and only $40. $50 barrels, or / per cent.
of the entire crop, were exported indi-
eating that 80 per cent. were used for home
consumption. Other years the exports have
been as high as per cent. of the entire
crop raised
For the fiscal year ending June so, 1908.
there were 1,655.247 barrels of apples ex-
ported, valued at A,37S, 967. a larger quantity
OF apples, with one two exceptions than
ever exported in a single year by any coun-
try.
In 1S96-1S97. the record-breaking years for
shipments, there were 1908, S91 barrels sold
IN the foreign market. but at much lower
figures than those that were sold for the
year ending June 80, 1903. The apples for
1896 and 1897 were valued at $751; 43
The United States in limited sense has
universal market for its surplus of ap-
pies, but the United Kingdom is the prin-
cipal purchaser, in fact is the only irnpor-
tant single customer for United States
apples. Germany is the next important
taking a greater quantity than all of the
rest of continental Europe, but compared
with the United Kingdom, Germany only
averages 10000 bushels a year. The com
bined impOrtatiOns of the United Kingdom
and Germany are about TO- 10000 bushels {
year.
OF course. Europe does not buy all of hel
apples from the United States although tbs
bulk of them are bought here. On the other
hand, Canada is a strong rival for the apple
business and the Canadians ship large guam.
titles of aples TO Europe
Though an unimportant customer fol
fruit in it's natural state. Germany ranks
nrst as a customer for dried or evaporatet
products of American apple orchards and OF
$l.fS0. 5s3 worth of dried apples shipped from
the United States in 1909 Germany took
about 45 per cent.