Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-17

washington, Aug. 16.-Ine present
abundance OF fresh vegetables ana
fruits brings with 1t the perennial ne
cessity for their rapid, economical dis
tribution and for encouraging gen.
erous and steady consumption. The
machinery for moving these 1000
products is complex and retail dealers
are often accused of not following
closely the wholesale market quota
tons; 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-
sponsibility for slow and uneconomfc
movement into consumptive channels
is difficult to trace. The large class
of food distributors known as MD
dlemen" are often accused of levying,
arbitrarily, to heavy tribute on all 1000
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 ana
Vegetables on Large Markets, does not
indict the "middlemen' as class. al
though it points out some of the
abuses in the trade. AS matter OF
fact, say the Departments specialists,
when discussing the present market
ing organization, economic laws woulc
not permit the long continued ex-
istence Of marketing agency which
was solely a parasite.
Several important factors have con-
tributed to the esta blishment Of many
middlemen as necessary agents in the
present system of marketing. Pro-
Guction 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 for consumers
for more elaborate and efficient ser
vice. 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 it's fruit and vegetable sup
plies there has arisen the necessity
for special agencies to meet the
. changed conditions.
The present distributive machinery,
with all its strong points and its
Weaknesses, has been created of ne
cessity, and it has weathered the
storm of much adverse criticism.
Every part Of the country is now en-
joying the perishable products Of the
most remote districts. Any readjust-
ment Of present market practices
must be based upon the fact that
some agency must continue to per-
form the functions of the present day
middleman.
The problems Involved in handling
goods through large market differ
greatly from those of production.
Usually one man or one firm can not
handle both production and distribu-
ton and succeed at both. The vast
volume of business transacted at large
, market centers makes necessary some
special agencies which can devote all
their energies to distribution. Es-
pecially does the machinery for eff
ficient marketing become necessary
, when perishable goods are to be
handled. Commodities Of this sort
must be moved rapidly. must be dis
tributed evenly, and from their very
nature permit of no weakness in dis
tributive machinery, if they are to be
sold at profit.
Some Causes Of Losses and Wastes.
With the perishable nature Of a
large part of the fruits and vegetables
marketed there must be some loss
: This often totals higher than the
. farmer realizes. For instance, accord
ing to the Departments market spe-
cialists, the loss on such commoditie.
as Strawberries, peaches, and grapes,
sometimes amount to 80 or 40 per cent
before they reach the hands of the
retail trade. Losses due to spelling
may be the result of the shippers
p. sending overripei or diseased fruit, OF
failing to give proper attention to
packing, to loading. or to bracing the
packages in the car. Sometimes the
railroad Is at fault. Delay in transit
improper ventilation or refrigeration
or unnecessarily rough handling OF
cars may contribute to rapid deterio-
ration Of the shipment on arrival.
The lack Of proper refrigeration
. facilities at distributing centers is q
! cause of much loss. When produce
!, moves slowly. there is often mucf
spoilage before complete sales can b.
made. Rough handling during un.
loading or carting is another -impor.
tant causes Of loss. AS a matter Of
fact. the opportunities for losses due
to the spelling of commodities are sc
, manifold that it is impossible to enter
a into a complete discussion of them.
1t is always well to bear in mind
the really serious side Of losses and
wastes. The spelling Of a dozer
: cantaloupes. a basket Of grapes, or 8
crate Of strawberries represents an alb.
solute loss to the community. No bene.
At accrues to producer. distributor. OF
consumer from such a condition. The
loss occurring at this point must b
borne by both producer and consumer
and in a great many cases the dis
tributor must bear his part of the
burden. The Departments special.
lists think in many cases losses ant
!. wastes are entirely too heavy ia,
on food distribution and that the
elimination Of unnecessary wastes
would do as much toward effectinl
z permanent, substantial economies II
marketing and distributing as any re-
adjustment Of present marketing
= methods could do. The fact that {