Milford chronicle., 1937-06-04
BERRY AUCTION In
FULL SWING in SUSSEX
[ConfinHed from Firsf Page]

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Delaware and 1t is the only one tha
is certified"
Every load of Strawberries that
goes through the auction is graded
by federal inspectors paid by the
Bureau of Markets of the State
Board of Agriculture.
This important work done at the
request of the growers and buyers
is under the general direction of W.
7. Derickson, chief of the bureau
of Markets.
The bureau charges two cents a
crate, paid by the brokers. When the
inspectors are through the brokers
know just what kind of berries they
are paying for. and the farmers
know that their offerings have been
given a fair rating for quality.
The deal was running IN high
gear on Monday. To the unfamiliar.
the sight was one of battling ct n
fusion. But actually the transactions
were running as smoothly IS bust
ness in a corner grocery.
All Types Of Vehicles
Farmers we're coming in con-
stantly from thirty miles around.
Their days pick" was loaded onto
all manner of conveyance-big shiny
trucks. little ramshackle trucks; hay
racks with mule teams, and farm
wagons with horses; battered tour
ing cars with fat tires, and the
latest model, streamlinei automo-
biles.
There we're two lines, each a full |
mile long. Each vehicle took place
at the end of one or the other line. |
Then came a three-hour wait as the |
line gradually edged down the
street. around into the railroad load
ing area, and up to the auction shed.
Every few minutes the line would
move ten or Is feet. The day was
so warm engines could not be left
Some of the trucks and
autos we're so old they had to be
cranked with every move.
Graded By Inspectors
The inspectors work along the
lines. These men have no part in
the auctioning and they must cause
no delay. They only judge the quail
ity of each lot. This they do by TAX
ing out quart boxes from the first
and second layers in one or two
crates.
They spill the berries out partly
into their cupped hands. With train
ed eyes they gauge four important
factors in a flash.
Out of a mentally drawn average
of five or so quarts from one or two
crates. they chalk down their rating
of the load on one of the top crates.
This rating. which serves as a guide
for the brokers and buyers. may look
like this:
"3-3-1-2"
That means per cent OF the ber-
ries have serious defects, per cent.
minor defects, one per cent are de-
Cayed, and two per cent are under
size. If the total percentage adds
up to less than ten. the inspector
Just draws a line across crate I
and the farmer beams. For that line
means "U. s. No. l." the highest rat
ing possible.
BUYERS Make Own Estimates
All this is just the preliminary
estimate. The buyers make their own
estimates in the auction pavilion. e
and then more federal inspectors
make a thorough examination just
before the berries are loaded onto
ruck or train.
If the final estimate does not gen.
,rally agree with the original. the
grower can take the load through
he auction shed again. can agree on
lower price. or the buyer can
waive the difference. In a day like
,ionday when more than a thousand
oads went through the shed. only
our or five did not measure up on
NAL check.
Only dozen brokers are permit
ed to do business in the auction.
suyers who come from Philadelphia
nd New York can do their own bid
ing. but they must work through
local broker and pay his commits
ion.
Auctioneer's Patter
AS each load pulls up to the auc-
ON shed, buyers and brokers crowd
round to read the rating num-
ers. throw open the tops of crates,
nd make their quick estimates.
eanwhile John S. Dickerson, the
lctioneer. starts his rapid-fire pat
n.
Fifty crates of Luptons. Look at
ese prime Luptons. Dollar and
alf for Luptons. C'm on, boys.
owe 'em out. Dollar and half for
uptons. Dollar-sixty. Seventy. Sew
lty-five. Eighty. Ninety. Two dol
rs. Two-ten. Done? Two-ten, to
ruitt. ta
The truck moves on. w. B. Truitt,
e broker, will call out: 1.-TWO ten
seven" That means his clerk,
ho is number seven, is to give a n
ceipt to the grower for the load
that price. Brokers pay off the
overs once a week, but the farm
S can get their money at once IL Ii
ey need 1t. El
In the auction shed, the auctioneer
the only one who does any real
liking. The buyers and brokers
st signal with a slight nod of the
ad, a lift of the eye brows,
ised pencil each has his own
ay.
The signals, hardly noticeable to
e layman, mean the buyer is still
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