Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-12
CRATES, BOXES
ARE CONFUSINC
~Fast-Growing Vegetable In.
dustry Has Made Big
Variety Containers

WASHINGTON. NAV if-Exnan-
kon or the rarm-prootlce confain-
INDUSTRY to keep pace with the
Increasing fruit and vegetable busi-
- IN recent years has produced
multiplicity Of crates and boxes
Iaas IN many instances amounts to
soniusion. the bureau OF aEricultu-
economics, department of aari-
culture, announced as the result of a
nation-Wide survey. The full text
~ the bureaus statement follows.
o than 1000. 600. 900 containers
hfe required 10 package the approxi-
mately 100000 carloads of fruits
~ vegetables shipped annually in
sne united States. These contain
cts are OF five typeS-baskets. crates
p boxes, barrels and sacks. There
are seven types of baskets: crates
and boxes have either panel or solid
ends, and there are three tvneS of
barrels. Sacks are eenerally made
OF Jute. but Investigations are now
1eing MADE OF the p~racticability of
using cotton or other fibers.
containers in use for shipping a
k1ven commodity vary widely in diff
1erent sections Of the country. For
the same kind of vegetable one sec
ton may use a basket. another a
crate. a third a barrel, and q fourth
Q sack. Fruits and vegetables taken
into city markets by nearby farm
erS may move in a variety OF con-
tanners. In a New England CITY
spinach was found on the market
IN lettuce crates. egg cases, orange
boxes and hampers.
Many OF the variations in fruit
and vegetable containers will always
exist, says the bureau, because diff
ferent types OF commodities require
0ifferent types Of containers and be-
cause manufactures in different sec
tions of the country can readily sup
ply certain types OF containers and
cannot supply other types. Inabil-
tty to supply other types is the prin-
cipal obstacle IN the way Of adopt
ing q specific container throughout
the country for any given commod-
ity.
Discussing possibilities OF simpli-
fication in boxes and crates. the bu-
teau declares that II practicable il
would be desirable to have a uni
form length for appie-box shocks
so that tops and bottoms could also
be used for peach, pear, and other
boxes Sizes of asparagus crates
might be simplified by using the /
and 2-dozen sizes for punched as
paraguS. Variations in sizes Of crates
for cantaloupes is due to an attempt
20 make the crate fit the pack.
Instances are cited of large growers
using an electric saw, with which
stats were sawn for crates made
each day to fit the melons.
Much confusion. says the bureau.
has existed as to the sizes of cherry
boxes as many as Is different speci-
fications being reported. Attempts
10 pack a certain number of pounds
70 a box are responsible for these
variations.
CaliforniG for many years has at
tempted to bring about the stand
ardiZation of grape containers, but
the demands Of shippers organiza-
lions for variations in sizes resulted
in chaos. At present, Is different
standard containers for grapes are
provided but a reduction Of 10 is
contemplated.
A complete report Of the bureaus
survey has been published by the
department Of agriculture as farm
rrs' bulletin 1579-F. entitled Con
tainers Used in Shipping Fruits and
Vegetables" The bulletin discusses
the containers in general use for
packing specified farm products. and
points out the need for simplifica-
ton.