Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Encouraging Apple Consumption.

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Encouraging Apple Consumption.
The apple as king of all American
fruits is having great boost once eact
year in national apple day, which thi,
year comes on October II. The plans
for its celebration are left almost entire
ly to local initiative. The internationa
apple shippers association, with r. G.
Phillips of Rochester, N. Y, as secre
tary, who is back of the movement, does
not attempt to lay down any specific
plans, for the reason that conditions and
the amount of money available in differ
ent localities will vary 80 widely. Furth.
ermore, il is deemed advisable to leave
the details of the celebrations to local
initiative, in that it will develop To-
cal interest to larger extent, and
gives more direct interest in the cele.
bration outcome than If any set of uni.
form rules was adopted by this oversee.
ing body.
One Of the chief things which the In.
ternational apple shippers association is
trying to emphasize is the enlisting of
close cooperation and support of the re-
tail trade. 1t is highly important that
retail dealers make displays, have spe-
cial sales and push the sale of fruit by
dodger, telephone and personal sales
manship. Upon the extent to which
they are willing and able to do this de-
pends the success of the celebration. In
other words, the retail dealers are to try
to get some kind of a publicity scheme
which will appeal to the eye, the ear and
the pocketbook of the consumer. Some
localities offer small prizes for best win
dow displays. This works very well and
usually results in very widespread in
terest.
DONATE APPLES TO INSTITUTIONS
One feature that is urged in every To-
cality is the donation of apples to chari-
table institutions. Some cities hold an
apple exhibit with free distribution of
apples on the last day of the show. This
works splendidly and gives an enormous
amount of publicity. Others have street
parades with elaborate floats. Both the
association and local authorities aim to
work in conjunction with hotels and res
taurants. Many of the latter give apples
to each guest; others have booths of
apples on display and put up an attract
i've plaeard to Take one," or "Health's
best way, eat apples every day."
The celebration of national apple day
last year was fairly encouraging, and the
publicity given was far in advance OF
that of any previous year. For the COM
ing year the International apple ship
pers' association offers two silver cups,
one to cities of 100000 population or
over in open competition, and the other
to cities having population under
100000. Awarding the cup to the city
in each group which held the best cee-
bration from the standpoint of its value
in populsrizing the apple and increasing
the consumption. Pittsburgh won the
first prize last year in the former class,
and Rochester, N. Y, won the cup in
the latter class.
The committee to award these prizes
consisted of W. T. Gerow, chairman,
with Z. n. Lomis ard Arthur Miller.
Exhibits were furnished from the vari-
ors cities in the form of scrapbooks con-
tanning reports regarding their method
of organization, the various features OF
the days celebration and newspaper
articles regarding the success of the
work. The celebration in Chicago was
of high order and deserves special men
tion. Chicago is particularly commend
ed for its distribution of a car Of apples
among the institutions of the city, iu-
cluding the schools and hospitals. and
manner in which 1t advertised the apple
apI Iaporkppopt atoraa
The Pittsburgh demonstration was re-
markable on account of its splendid Or
ganizatiou, including all the apple mer-
chants of the city, their preliminary
work extending over period of at least
a month before national apple day. By
this method they gradually worked up
an immense interest over the celebration.
An imposing feature was the splendid
parade commencing at noon and lasting
over two hours. 1t consisted of 21 auto
mobiles and six floats and a squad of
mounted police. A general free distri-
button of apples was made en- route. The
celebration was advertised in 90 moving
picture theaters by appropriate plates
thrown upon the screen. A moving pic
ture was taken of the parade itself.
Inc com mmlttee Is luOhiuR iOIWoAu " @
greater number of cities entering in the
open competition for national apple day
this year, and believes that with larger
representation the celebration will be
commercial success, the influence OF
which will be felt for long time. At
tractive slogans, such as "An apple
day keeps the doctor away" apple,
king of fruits" Natures richest gift;
Eat 'em raw, baked, fried or stewed;
"Eve 81, Adam S-1-2'-these and other
appropriate slogans were heralded
throughout the competing cities on
national apple day. 1t is really surpris,
ing what can be done with little effort
and small outlay of money. 1t is well
worth while for farmers to take hold OF
this movement and help increase CON
sumption.