The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-09-09
MOVING FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES
TO The MARKET
Wholesale Distribution Of Com
modities Often Seems to
Take Circuitous Route.
CAUSES OF LOSS AND WASTE
Economic Conditions Do Not Court
Market Parasites-Consumers De-
nand More Elaborate and
Efficient ServIce-Problem
Is Difficult One.
Prepared by the United states Depart
ment of Agriculture)

(Prepared by the United states Depart
ment Of Agriculture
Washington, d. C.-The present
abundance of fresh vegetables ana
fruits brings with 1t the perennial
necessity for their rapid economical
distribution and for encouraging
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 a rapid movement from
producer to consumer. But the re-
Rponsibllity 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, a heavy tribute on all food
stuffs passing from the producer to
the consumer The attention OF the
public has been frequently directed
10 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 It points out some OF the
abuses in the trade AS a matter Of
fact, says the departments special
lists. when discussing the present mar
keting organization, economic laws
would not permit the long-contlnued
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 sery.
ice Seldom is the fact considered
that service can become a very ex-
pensiye luxury With the widening of
the distance between the city and the
plies there has arisen the necessity
for special agencies to meet the
changed conditions
The present dlstributive machinery,
with all its strong points and its weak.
nesses, has been created OF necessity,
and 1t has weathered the storm OF
much adverse criticism. Every part
OF the country N now enjoying the
perishable products OF the most re
mote districts Any readJustmcnt of
present market practices must be
based upon the fact that some agency
must continue 10 perform the func
lions OF the present.day middlcman
The problems involved in handling
goods through large market differ
greatly from thIe OF production. Us
ually one man or one firm cannot han.
die both production and distribution
and succeed at both. The vast vol.
ume q business transacted at large
market centers makes necessary some
special agencies which can devote all
their energies TO distribution. Egpe.
cially does the machinery for efficient
marketing become necessary when
perishable goods are - be handled
Commodities u this sort must be
moved rapidly, must se distributed
evenly, and from their nature permit
of no weakness in distrlbutive ma.
chinery, II 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