The Elbert County tribune., 1915-09-10
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricufture)

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricufture)
Washington, ID. C.-The present
abundance of fresh vegetables and
fruits brings with it the perennial
necessity for their rapid, economical
distribution and for encouraging a
generous and steady consumption
The machinery for moving these food
products is complex, and retail gro
GERS are often accused of not follow
ing closely the wholesale market quo
tations; that in times of glutted mar
kets they do not cut prices severely
and aid in rapid movement from
producer to consumer. But the re-
sponsibility for slow and uneconomic
movement into consumptive channels
is difficult to trace. The large class
of food distributors known as mid
dlemen" are often accused of levying,
arbitrarily, heavy tribute on all food
stuffs passing from the producer to
the consumer. The attention of the
public has been frequently directed
to increased costs of products rather
than service rendered. The new
United States Department of Agricul-
ture Bulletin, No. 267. Methods of
Wholesale Distribution of Fruits and
Vegetables on Large Markets." does
not indict the "middlemen" as a class,
although 1t points out some of the
abuses in the trade. AS matter of
fact. says the departments special
lists. when discussing the present mar
keting organization. economic laws
would not permit the ong-continued
existence of marketing agency which
was solely a parasite.
Production increases.
Several important factors have con-
tributed to the establishment of many
middlemen as necessary agents in the
present system of marketing. Pro-
duction during the last decade has in
creased greatly, and improved meth
DDS and facilities for handling the in
crease have been introduced Keep
ing pace with increased production
has come the demand of consumers
for more elaborate and efficient serv-
ice. Seldom is the fact considered
that service can become a very ex-
pensive luxury. With the widening of
the distance between the city and the
sources of its fruit and vegetable sup
plies there has arisen the necessity
Tor special agencies to meet the
changed conditions
The present distributive machinery,
with all its strong points and its weak
nesses, has been created of necessity,
and It has weathered the storm of
much adverse criticism Every part
Of the country is now enjoying the
perishable products of the most re-
mote districts. Any readjustment of
present market practices must be
based upon the fact that some agency
must continue to perform the func-
tons of the present-day middleman
The problems involved in handling
goods through large market differ
greatly from those of production. U.s.
ually one man or one firm cannot han
lie both production and distribution
and succeed at both. The vast vol
1me of business transacted at large
market centers makes necessary some
special agencies which can devote all
their energies to distribution Espe-
cially does the machinery for efficient
marketing become necessary when
perishable goods are to be handled.
Commodities of this sort must be
moved rapidly, must be distributed
evenly. and from their nature permit
of no weakness in distributive ma
chinery, If they are to be sold at a
profit.
Causes of Losses and Wastes.
With the perishable nature Of a
large part of the fruits and vegetables