The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-08-20
Economic Conditions Do Not Court
Market Parasites


to consumer But the responsibility
for slow and uneconomic movement
into consumptive channels is difficult
to trace. The large class of food dis
tributors known as "middlemen' are
often accused Of levying arbitrarily
a heavy tribute on all food stuffs pass
ing from the producer to the consumer.
The attention of the public has fire.
uuently been directed to increased
costs of products rather than service
rendered. The new United States de-
partment of agriculture bulletin No.
267. Methods of Wholesale Distribu-
tion of Fruits and Vegetables on Large
Markets. does not indict the middle
men" as a class, although it points out
some of the abuses in the trade. AS a
matter of fact, say the departments
specialists, when discussing the pres
ent marketing organization, economic
laws would not permit the long con-
Ilnutu tAlSbtlNt VI a MAJ nN''hS 'bN''
cy which was solely a parasite.
Several important factors have con-
tributed to the establishment of many
middlemen as necessary agents in the
present system of marketing. Produc-
ton during the last decade has in
creased greatly, and improved methods
and facilities for handling the in
crease have been introduced. Keeping
pace with increased production has
come the demand of consumers for
more elaborate and efficient service.
Seldom is the fact considered that SER
vice can become a very expensive lux
ury. With the widening of the distance
between the city and the sources of
its fruit and vegetable supplies there
has arisen the necessity for special
agencies to meet the changed condi-
tions.
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. Ev-
cry 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 perform the
functions of the present-day middle
man.
The problems involved in handling
goods through a large market differ
greatly from those of production. Usu-
ally one man or one firm can not han
die both production and distribution
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. Especially
does the machinery for efficient mar
keting become necessary when perish
able goods are to be handled. Com
modities of this sort must be moved
rapidly, must be distributed evenly,
and from their very nature permit of
no weakness in distributive machinery,
if they are to be sold at a profit.
Some Causes of Losses and Waste.
With the perishable nature of large
part of the fruits and vegetables mar
keted, there must be some loss. This
often totals higher than the farmer
realizes For instance, according to
the departments market specialists,
the loss on such commodities as straw
berries, peaches, and grapes, some
times amounts to 80 or 40 per cent
before they reach the hands of the re-
tail trade. Losses due to spelling may
be the result of the shippers sending
over-ripe or diseased fruit, or 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 unnec-
essarily rough handling of cars may
contribute to rapid deterioration of
the shipment on arrival.
The lack of proper refrigeration fa-
cilities at distributing centers is a
cause of much loss. When produce
moves slowly, there is often much
spoilage before complete sales can be
made. Rough handling during unload
ing or carting is another important
cause of loss. As matter of fact,
the opportunities for losses due to the
spelling of commodities are so mani
fold that it is impossible to enter into
a complete discussion of them.
If is aIwavs we'll IN haar in mind