The Delta independent., 1910-07-29
COMMERCIAL FRUIT PACKING
Harry Younger Ably Discusses This
Very Important Sabject.


The following paper was read by
Harry Younger of Palisade at the
Annual State Horticultural Conven-
tion at Palisade, November 29th,
1909, and as there is considerable
interest being displayed just at the
present time concerning our fruit
pack, we herewith give Mr.. Young
er's ideas on the subject as one
being actively engaged in the busi-
ness, and talks from a standpoint of
actual experience. His paper in full
is as follows:
The subject assigned me for this
and the general topic among the
trade the country over The ship
per, the jobber and the consumer
are all much interested, and to the
fruit growing it is subject of alb
solute importance and a matter of
dollars and cents that he cater to
the demands of critical buyer by
putting up the best pack.
Probably no one thing enters
more into commercial fruit growing
than proper packing. Too much care
and attention cannot be given this
part of the work if we are to re-
ceive our full reward by getting the
highest prices.
"In the great industry of fruit
growing, the packing is the final
preparation, or the finishing touches
to a work in which the grower has
put in one years time. The same
grower now offers to an exacting
Iublic the finished product-a pub
lie ready to condemn and take ad-
vantage of the slightest irregular
ity by asking reductions in the buy
ing price. AS we have said before,
one year is required to grow a crop
OF fruit, this after the orchard is
in full bearing, to say nothing OF
the time and money spent in bringing
the orchard to that point where it
begins to bear fruit.
"A grower may also exhibit the
best of Judgment in selecting soil.
location and varieties; he may grow
the orchard with care, giving close
attention to irrigation, cultivation.
spraying. pruning, thinning. etc.
Each of the above subjects is a
study in itself. each bearing close
relation to the other. and subjects
with which each grower. to achieve
the best results and to attain that
which is justly his. must become
thoroughly familiar. All the above
phases in fruit growing may be
successfully handled. and yet II the
fruit is allowed to go on the market
improperly packed, much of the Ia
Dor has been lost. However, we will
pass over these subjects. Suffice 1t
to say. the fruit grown, even then
there is much to do to secure the
highest prices. The fruit must be
carefully picked. not too green. not
too ripe. 1t must be handled with
the greatest care from the tree to
the packing house. The best pack
must be free from scab, scale, stings
or worm holes. This. together with
definite sizing and careful grading,
are the essentials requisite for good
commercial packing and the key to
success in the fruit growing indus
try. The demands of the trade must
also be observed. If they ask for the
best pack we must be ready to cater
to their wants by serving them with
the best packs. We must constantly
work to make our fruit leader and
never allow it to become a second
choice with the buyer or consumer
on account of the pack.
I'm commercial packing of our
peaches, apples and pears, we have
two packs. known as the square pack
and the diagonal or broken pack
Both are good when properly ex-
ecuted.
Personally, we prefer the diago-
nal pack, and especially for peaches
we would recommend this pack, as
by this method no one peach rests
squarely on top of another, but fits
into the triangular space which is
made by breaking joints in the lay
ers, thus giving each peach, apple
or pear, as the case may be, several
points of contact, thereby lessening
the danger of bruising while in tran
sit and going through the different
processes of marketing.
Each grower should take pride
in the appearance of his product.
A nice, clean box. well made, and
good paper should be used. And It
is our opinion that each box should