The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-10-20


Better than ten million individuals in the Unit
ed States are engaged in producing and to very
great degree these not cooperating with their
neighbors Consequently many middlemen are
required to gather up the products from the indi-
viduals, bring them together, grade them and
distribute them in the quantities and at the
places indicated by the demands of the consum-
ers and provide the credit required by those who
directly serve the consumers.
In the last analysis marketing Is problem in
efficiency. The more efficient the method sys-
TEN used the more economical the cost Of the
service. At first the profits Of efficiency go to the
middemen who evolve the better methods, and
they appear to prosper, and do. Eventually, how
ever, the economies which produce profits for
those between the producers and the consumers
will be partially absorbed by the producers on
the one hand and the consumers on the other
This will be true to the degree in which the
producers unite and perform certain of the func-
tions now performed by the middlemen. They
can do this work more economically than it can
be done by existing machinery, and not a little
effort is being made to point this fact out to
them Then some of the waste of the present
order of things is to be saved by cooperative
activity the part of the consumers. This is
going to be even more difficult to bring about
than uniting the producers. Yet there are indi-
cations that progress Is likely to be made in this
direction.
The marketing methods by which Michigan pro-
ducers start their products on the road to the
consumer can best he studied by an inspection of
the systems that exist in connection with special
crops. OF great interest are the methods used in
the marketing Of fruits beans. potatoes, dairy
products and live stock. Each of the above call
for methods that slightly different and these
different systems may be viewed types of the
different kinds of marketing.
There three principal methods for market
the fruits of the state. There is the cash-on-de
livery method the consignment method, and the
cooperative method
Cash on delivery is form Of marketing that
is very acceptable to large number of the fruit
growers. 1t is found in limited way in all parts
of the state. For example, the farmer who de-
1vers crate Of strawberries at the kitchen door,
as rule, gets spot cash; and the fruit grower
who sells on the municipal markets in Detroit,
Grand Rapids, Bay City, Saginaw, Lansing, and
Kalamazoo receives his pay as he hands over the
fruit. The grower who sOcits mail and express
orders generally gets check either just before
shipment or Immediately on the arrival of the
package Cash sales of fruit n large scale
occur at several points in the state, notably Ben
ton Harbor and Traverse City. From the time
the first strawberry ripens in the early summer
until the last barrel of apples is sold in the fall
there are men at both these points who stand
ready to write checks for fruit In any quantities
from few crates to n carload.
The fruit is sold on inspection That Is the
grower and buyer meet and look at the fruit to-
ticular lot. The buyer offers a price which per-
mits him to resell in distant market at an
advance that not only covers all the expenses, but
also provides n generous profit.
I The second important form of marketing Mich
lgan fruit Is the consignment method This
method is In most cases very unsatisfactory. Yet
It lourishes because of the unpreparedness of the
producers 1t exists in all parts of the state and
will prevail until the vast majority of producers
learn the rudiments Of marketing. It's presence
is an indication Of a low community standard Of
efficiency. In theory the consignment method is
beautiful June sunrise. In practice IL is
as Elusive rs sea serpent. Now you have him,
you don't.
Many Of the men In the commission business
are as honest rs the most honorable of our
bankers, and few as irregular as the bank
enjoying the hospitality of their uncle ut
Fort Leavenworth But II is not a question OF
honesty. It is question Of efficiency. The con-
signment method is speculative, 1t is uncertain IL
ifs partial to extremes 1t Is not favorable to a
steady movement Of the crops from the producer
to the consumer. 1t Is too much matter Of luck.
The grower sends his produce forward to the city
commission man, not knowing whether the mar
ket to which he is consgning Is glutted or bar
rem.