, 1934-12-16
Vegetable Shipping
In Mixed Cars Is
Great Aid to Valley

The great boon that mixed cars
OF vegetables have been TO the
growers OF this section in their Ell
forts TO diversity paintings is re-
vealed in a new bulletin OF the A.
a. NJ. extension service titled The
Mixed Carload IN Distribution OF
Vegetables From the Lower Rio
Grande Valley Of Texas"
The chief benefit has been the
facilitation OF shipments OF new
vegetables 10 the markets OF the
United states and Canada, says w.
Z. Paulson. author OF the bulletin.
LengtheEs Season
Furthermore, after the produc-
ton OF a wide variety OF vegetables
had been established, the mixed
carload offered and continues 10 Of
fer the mean Of shipping them 10
market" he writes. The mixed car
load has been a factor in lengthen-
ing the marketing season for these
growers. II has been particularly
influential In increasing fall and
winter shipments.
mo division can be made on the
basis OF size between what may be
termed mixed carload and straight
carload markets. Mixed carload
shipments arc becoming increasing
ly popular IL the large cities. AS TO
per capita receipts, mixed carloads
are much more important IN small
markets than In large. Mixed car
loads have expanded the outlet for
staple vegetables in the small mar
ketS and for specially vegetables IN
the large markets.
Small markets receive mixed car
loads because their capacity Is too
small TO accept straight carloads OF
the various vegetables. Large mar
kets receive mixed carloads for num-
erous reasons: the straight carload
may be too large a unit Tor the
various speciality vegetables: more
frequently receipts IN the mixed car
load insure greater freshness: the
Jobber wishing 10 play the role Of
receiver finds the mixed carload
suited TO his purpose both as TO
variety OF vegetables and quantities;
and the mixed carload aids the car
lot receiver 70 assemble a greater
variety IN a smaller number Of car
loads than Is possible through
straight carloads.
In satisfying requirements for
vegetables, specific mixed carloads
r OF greater importance IN small
markets than IN large and carloads
filled according 10 +, o. B. order
and running TO many commodities
are OF relatively greater Signiti-
canoe IN shipments 10 these mar
kets. Mixed carloads, filled without
reference to specific orders and con-
signed, OF course, find their freeSt
outlet in the larger markets.
Larger Cities Outlet
The chief outlet Tor mixed car
loads from the Valley, In early
years. was 10 cities IN Texas and
surrounding states. Today these
markets are largely supplied through
truck Shipments Tie main outlet
for mixed carloads today Is 10 the
larger cities ON the one hand, and
10 the smaller cities, on the other
hand, 10 distant Tor motor truck
shipments either from the area OF
production or from the larger dis
tributing centers.
For The u shipping seasons end
ing l030-3i, mixed carloads have
accounted for 20 per cen OF all car
load shipments OF vegetables IRON
the Valley. While a total OF 50 yege-
tables were included in mixed car
load shipments during the period,
le26-27 TO l930-3l. cabbage, carrots,
beets, potatoes. and green beans
made up nearly 80 per cent OF the
total volume. Chief characteristics
OF a vegetable important IN mixed
carload shipments are: /. Long mar
keting season. 2. Large and stable
demand. 3. Suitability TO mixing
with other vegetables in the same
carload. 4. Marketing season con
current with that OF numerous 9TH
er vegetables.
Mixed carloads play a promin-
ent role IN distribution Of vegetables
from the Valley 10 cities III the
United States and Canada from o.
coo population and even less 10 the
largest. The relative Importance OF
mixed carloads decreases as size Of