The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-18

Peddling farm produce from side
door Pullmans" is a market outlet
which some producers have followed,
as, by accompanying a car Of their
produce on the road ana selling d.
rectly from the car door to dealers
and consumers in a number of small
towns, they realize renumerative re-
turn from their marketing opera
tons. In most of the places where
this method of Gear peddling" is
practiced the producers take out u
ccnse from the authorities viii IN
gives them temporary selling prlvll-
eyes, such licenses costing from $40
to $25 apiece. This system of self
service salemanship is applicable only
in regions where the growers have no
cooperative association. 1t would be
extremely unwise for the indivl iu2l
producer to go on the road in active
competition with an extensive SELLING
organization. The grower also must
bear in mind the fact that, although
the returns from this method of sell
ing at first may appear large, fhny
will be cut down to a great extent by
his expenses, the time consumed, and
the consequent neglect of his reo' lT
business. This practice may result
also in lowering wholesale prices, in
asmuch as the grower may be anXi-
Gus to get away and may sell at
fyl,ree which the regular dealers
would not accept. Car peddling IS
more common in the West and
Southwest than in any other sections
OF the country, but has decreased I'M
der recent demurTage and traffic reg
ulations.
The producer who is seeking q pro-
ftable market for his commodities
may plofitably divert his surplus
stocks to canning plants, picking
plpants, cider mills, evaporating
plants, or other commercial concerns
which specialize in the production
of staple food products. Canning
plants, cider mills, evaporating
outlet for fruits and vegetables. How
ever, there is a common misunder-
standing concerning these factories,
as it Is usually thought that they
utilize the Gull grades of fruits and
vegetables. This is true in only a
limited way, and the practice Is an
nually becoming less common. Com
petition has become so keen among
canning factories that quality is now
determining factor of success. Con-
seouently they are making an effort
to secure the higher grades of fruits
and vegetables. 1t usually is ncces-
sarv to make contracts in advance If
markets are to be secured at these
factories. The farmer who approach
es factory only when he has un-
salable surplus and the markets are
glutted must expect very low offers.
Picking plants use more vegetables
| than fruits, large part of the Gu
cumber crop being utilized in tins
way. Kraut factories, which in many
sections afford important markets for
cabbage, may be included under this
head.
Cider mills and evaporating plants
are the real outlet for Gull grades of
fruits, although even here, quality is
becoming more important. 1t Is a
truth too little understood that lew
grades, while sometimes bringing fair
returns, are in reality detriment to
the market because they tend to pull
down the prices of better grades
Farmers will do better on the whole
to accept a low price for these Gull
grades from the factory and keep
them off the general market. this
causing the general value of Tie
market to strengthen materially.
DIRECT SELLING SOMETIM IS
FAILS
1t is a common belief that the most
direct outlet for producers-that is
the channel direct to consumers
always the most simple of all cha'.'
nels of distribution. 1t is doubt III
whether this is always true, for macy
difficulties lie in the way of the pro
Queer who attempts to get In toucf
with the final consumers of his com"
modities. There is no doubt as tc
the advantages, in that there are nc
Intermediates in the distribution OF
these goods and the producer is able
to get much higher prices than nc
could if selling at wholesale. How
ever, there is the Inconvenience OF
getting in touch with the consumers
who are in the market for the part
cular commodities concerned and the
difficulty of making collections anc
avoiding bad accounts The average
from the market centers and in th'
larger cities makes it practically I'M
possible for growers to deliver then
produce direct to consumers. The
best examples of successful direct de-
liveries by growers to consumers are
found in the sale of fresh fruits ano
vegetables in small country towns
and deliveries from neighbor.1 e
farms through residential sections o.
most O. the larger cities.
i PREACHING MARKETS BY
TRUCKS
Direct delivery by wagon or motor
truck is practicable only where the
farmer lives within 25-nile radius
Of the consuming center. Hence this