Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-07-13
LOWERING OF FOOD PRICES
DEPENDS ON DISTRIBUTION
Inform Methods of Marketing Farm
Products Neces AIRY for a More
Economical System.

1t is generally agreed that if food i
costs are to be lowered a more eco
system of distribution of |
farm products must be perfected and
placed in practical use.
Standardization, say experts of the
Bureau Of Markets, United States |
Department of Agriculture, is the
essential basis for such system. |
This means not only standard grades
for fruits and vegetables, but STAN
dards for he contain ers in which they
are packed.
Should Sell Produce by Weight.
The Bureau of Markets is charged
with the enforcement of the United
States standard containeh act which
provides only for standard capacities
for grape and berry baskets used IN
Interstate commerce. The applica-
ton Of this law has resulted in the
widespread use Of these containers il
intrastate commerce also, for ship
pers have come to appreciate the ben
efits derived from the use of unifo m
methods of marketing such fruits.
Standardization of larger shipping
containers, such as hampers and
round-stave baskets is equally 1e-
sirable, say the bureaus experts. o.
course, the best method is to sell pro.
duce by the pound, but where 1t is
impracticable to sell by weight, uni
form containers should be used.
Bushel baskets of peaches from Gecr-
gia and Colorado should contain t,t
same quantity of peaches. The same
is true of any other food commodity
shipped in hampers or baskets.
An illustration of how the present
methods result in dissatisfaction is
the case of a Florida producer who
recently shipped potatoes to the New
York market in a container with
which the trade was not familia:.
Although the potatoes were Of high
quality. difficulty was experienced IN
disposing of them. When thew were
finally sold the price was consider
ably lowe.t per pound than that com
manded by potatoes packed in 'hc
customary manner.
At present there are about so types
of hampers and over 20 sizes of round
stave baskets in use. Many Of these
sizes are simply the outgrowth of Gus
tom in various shipping localities
othe.s are used for the express p1r
pose of deception. And aside from
the confusion and uncertainty tha
result from the use of dozens Of dif
ferent kinds of containers, million'
of dollars are annually lost through
destruction of produce in transit O1
account of the weak construction o.
the containers used.
Would Reduce Number of Containers
Many large growers, shippers. AID
basket manufacturers appreciate the
desirability Of reducing the number
of these containers, and nationwide
movement is on foot to eliminate
many of them Cooperative selling
organizations are already doing much
to promote uniformity and standard
ization. It means money to them moi
only because Of the familiarity OF TIT
trade with the containers used but II
permitting methods of loading i1tc
cars that reduce the likelihood oi
breakage to a minimum.
After a careful canvass Of the stu
alton the Bureau of Markets believes
and, in t ,hteoihssh 1T cmfwyp cm'~
and, in this, those who have studied
the problem are of the same opinion
that five standard hampers and fcu.
standard round-stave baskets are SUI
ficient to meet all shipping require
ments. The specifications provide tor
volume, dimensions or shape, aac
Istrength. In addition to the advar-
Itages of uniformity. the adoption OF
these sizes will enable the railroads
to work out loading rules that Will
permit of a more intensive utilization
Of car space, and which will be bound
to reduce to a minimum claims OIL
|..,.+ ~ damape IN transit