Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-10-23

basket carriers Of peaches was from
S1.75 to $3.50. These prices were to
1obbers of CARROTS and represent the
initial cost of peaches at the first
point in the line of marketing dis
tribution in the city.
On the date the previously quoted
letter was written from New York,
July 20, the highest price reported at
that city on sales to jobbers of
Georgia peaches was $2.75 for six
basket carrier. The approximate
weight Of the fruit in such a carrier
is 3715 pounds. II this were sold
at 20 cents per pound, the retail price
mentioned by the writer, the carrier
brought total Of $3.50 This repre-
sents the total amount paid by the
consumer out of which must come
the following items: The producers
returns, package cost, packing and
loading expense, freight and icing
charges, and the wholesalers gross
profit or ommission-making total
of $275-and the cost, profits and
waste Of city distribution which
amounted to SAFE. Were the peaches
delivered to piers in New York free
of charge and distributed to the con-
sumner through the present channels
of trade and at normal charges and
profits only, the consumer would
have had to pay approximately 63
per cent of the price he did pay.
Distribution Is Costly.
The distribution of fruits and
vegetables in New York city is a cost
| " operation at best and this cost Is
greatly increased by the ungraded
| condition of much Of the stock which
| is delivered to this market In order
| that buyers may inspect the fruit, it
| is necessary that it be moved to a
central point where work may be done
as quickly as possible. In New York
| the piers furnish this point and there
| the cars are centralized and distri-
button begins. A car of peaches is
| delivered to a carlot receiver at
pier in New York. The receiver I'M
loads the car on the pier and splits
| it into units of to 100 carriers,
each jobber buying according to his
needs. The jobber has his purchase
delivered to trucks which haul 1t to
| his place Of business in one of the
| FIVE or six secondary markets. Here
the jobber splits his supply into units
that will meet the needs of the re-
| tailers. Again the truck is used to
deliver the retailers purchase to his
place Of business. Here the last
splittings Of purchases are made and
range in size, according to the con-
sumers desires which may be one
peach or one or more baskets. Often
therelis another truck delivery which
takes the product to the consumer.
Each Step Adds to Cost.
Each step in this distribution is an
added cost and each handler must
lsuIt is the consumers price 1t has
been estimated that the initial NOV
ing charge from pier to truck, dis
lance Of SOC yards, is $1,000 per car.
From pier to the large distributing
points will range from $24.00 to $500
| per car Each handler must exact
profit, which may be small, but the
| total expense is large. Peaches are
a highly perishable product and the
various landings along the route
from producer to consumer entail con-
siderable loss through physical injury
while changes in temperature aggra-
vate these and other defects. This
| loss is the consumers loss as the re-
| tail price of the merchantable fruit
must cover the expenses and profits
| In all the transactions.
These figures and facts which ex-
plain rather convincingly the reasons
| for the so-called waste of fruit at
| the production end, while the con-
sumner must pay considerable price,
have been prepared by the depart
| ment after careful investigation.
| Similar conditions are to be found in
the handling of practically all perish
able food products.