Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-09
MARKETING METHODS.
Wholesale Distribution often Appears
10 MIKE n Circuitous Route.

r,ho nreacpt abundance of fresh vege-
,,blcs and fruits brings with II the peren-
Mai necessity for their rapid, economical
Liberalization and for encouraging a gener-
one and steady consumption. The machin-
,rv for moving these food products is
complex, and retail dealers are often ac-
cused Of not following closely the Whole
sale market quotations; that In times OF
rlutted markets they do not cut prices
severely and aid in rapid movement
from producer to consumer. But the re-
sponsibility for slow ana uneconomic
movement into consumptve channels Ia
difficult to trace. The large class of foou
distributors known as "mddlemen' are
often accused of levying, Arbitrarily,
heavy tribute on all food stuhs passing
from the producer to the consumer. The
attention of the public has been frequent
~ directed to increased costs oil products
rather than service rendered The new
DEPARTMENT bulletin NO. 261. Methods of
Wholesale Distribution Of Fruits and
Vegetables on Large Markets. does not
indict the ''middlemen" as class. al
though, it points ont some OF the abuses
in the trade AS a matter of fact, say
the denartment's specialists. when discus
sing the present marketing organization,
economic laws would not permit the iong-
continued existence OF marketing
agency which was solely parasite.
Several important factors have con.
trihutcd to the establishment OF many
middemcn as necessary agents IN the
present system of marketing. Production
during the last decade has increased
greatly, and improved methods and facli-
ties for handling the increase have been
introduced Keeping pace with increased
production has come the demand of con-
stIiners for more elaborate and efficient
service Seldom Is the fact considered that
service can become u very expensive lux
ury. With the widening of the distance be-
tween the city and the sources Of It's fruit
and vegetable supplies there has arisen
the necessity for special agencies to meet
the changed conditions.
The present dstributive machinery, with
all it's strong points and the weaknesses.
has been created of necessity. and 1t has
weathcred the storm of much adverse
criticism. Every part of the country Is
now enjoying the perishable products Of
the most remote districts Any readiust-
rncnt Of present market practices must be
based upon the fact that some agency
must continue to perform the functions of
the present day middleman.
The problems involved in handling goods
through n large market differ greatly
from those of production. Usually one
man or one firm can rot handle both pro-
duCtion and distribution and succeed at
both. The vast volume of bsuiness trans
acted at large market centers makes nee
cssarY some special agencies which can
devote all their energies to distribution.
Especially does the machinery for efficient
marketing become necessary when perish
able goods are to be handled Commod-
ties of this sort must he moved rapidly.
must he distributed evenly. and from Their
very nature permit Of no weakness in dis
tril"ltive machinery. if they are to bc sold
at q profit