PICKING AND MARKETING
In the proceedings of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, I
find the following interesting paper from the pen of Mr. C. W. Idell, a
commission merchant, whose intelligent interest in fruits extends
beyond their current price. He gives so graphic a picture of the
diminutive beginning of small fruit growing and marketing, that I am
led to quote freely:
"About the earliest knowledge I could obtain of the strawberry in our
State is that it first grew wild in many regions, particularly in the
county of Bergen. The negroes were the first to pick this fruit for the
New York market, and invented those quaint old-fashioned splint
baskets, with handles, that were and are still in use in that county.
These berries were taken to New York, the baskets being strung on
poles, and thus peddled through the city. I would state, for the
benefit of those who have not seen these baskets, that it was the
intention of the original makers of them to have them contain a
half-pint each, but soon they became so reduced in size that each buyer
was compelled to guess at the contents of those he bought.
"Just when cultivated berries made their appearance, I am unable to
say, but I am inclined to think they were derived from seedlings of the
wild fruit. From the information I have gathered, I think that the
cultivation of the fruit for the market originated in the vicinity of
Hackensack, Bergen county, and from there spread over the State. As
there were no railroads in that section at that early date, all the
berries had to be carted to New York in wagons, crossing the Hudson at
Hoboken. Quite recently I met with Mr. Andrew M. Hopper, of Pascack,
who gave me several interesting points from his early recollections.
"Mr. Hopper said: 'I am sixty-five years old, and can well remember
picking berries for my father, when a boy ten years of age. At that
time we had no crates as we have now, but packed them in large baskets
that we called hampers.
"'Our only shipping point to New York was Piermont, on the Hudson, New
York State, a distance of about eight miles.
"'At this point there was a line of sloops that sailed semi-weekly,
when wind and tide permitted. In those days there were no commission
merchants in New York that dealt in berries, and each farmer was
compelled to go with and sell his own fruit. The fare on these vessels
was one shilling for a round trip, board not included; and as it
sometimes required two days to reach the city, each farmer provided a
lunch for himself before starting from home, as well as provender for
his team, which was left at the landing to await his return. The usual
fee for caring for the team while they were gone was twenty-five cents.'
"The Hautbois was the first named variety he could remember, which was
introduced among them in 1835. In about 1840 the Scotch Runner was
introduced at Hackensack. It was a valuable variety for the growers, as
it was hardy, a good bearer, and the fruit grew unusually large for
that period. An incident connected with the introduction of this
variety is worth mentioning, showing the eagerness of the cultivators
to procure the plants.
"A gentleman living at 'Old Bridge,' which is a few miles above
Hackensack, secured quite a number of plants and set them out in his
garden for the purpose of propagating them, so that he could in due
time plant a large patch of them. The vines being in great demand, his
neighbors insisted upon his selling them; but this proposition he
positively refused, and the consequence was that, one night, some
person entered his garden and stole every plant he had. At this period
and up to the introduction of the Wilson, all strawberries in that
section were picked and marketed without the hulls.
"For a long time I have been trying to find out the originator of the
quart-berry-box and crate, and, thinking Mr. Hopper might possess some
knowledge on this point, I inquired of him. He replied: 'I know nothing
about the quart box, for I never used them, but I do about the crate.
"'In 1840 I made the first crate ever used in our section, if not in
the State, and I will tell you how I came to do it. In those days I
raised large quantities of apricots, and marketed them in such baskets
as we happened to have. In the year named my fruit was very large and
finely colored, and knowing they would be damaged by carting in the
usual way, I had a number of small baskets made, and then I constructed
a crate to fit them. The next day after I made them, Gen. Acker, who
was an old fruit grower, called on me, admired the arrangement, and
suggested that they would answer to pack berries in, and requested me
to make two for him, which I did. From these the use of them became
general.'
"The cases referred to were skeleton cases, some with and others
without lids, each grower making them to suit his own convenience for
handling; but they generally contained from one to two hundred baskets
each. The number of baskets in each was marked either on the lid or
slat."
From the above quotation, the reader can realize what vast changes have
taken place within the last fifty years. A few sable pedlers, with
little baskets strung on poles, form a decided contrast with a
Charleston steamer, bringing in one trip North far more strawberries,
in patent refrigerators, than were then sold in a year; or with an Old
Dominion steamship, discharging six thousand bushels as a single item
of cargo. Ninety-four car-loads of strawberries have passed over the
Delaware railroad in one day. According to one computation already
given, New York consumes $25,000,000 worth of small fruits annually. If
the business has grown to such proportions within the last
half-century, may we not expect even greater increase in the future?
The appliances for preserving fruit, and for transporting it quickly
and safely, become more perfect every year. Thus a market is created in
vast regions which, though populous, are not adapted to the raising of
fruit.
The modern conditions of marketing fruit are just the reverse of those
described by Mr. Idell. Then the berries, both in size and quantity,
were small; but the labor and difficulty in reaching the consumer were
immense. Now, strawberries that in size resemble tomatoes can be
forwarded by the ship and car load, with brief printed labels, and the
commission merchant sells for his correspondent, who may reside
hundreds of miles away, and for years never follow his fruits to their
market. Our chief ground for solicitude is success in finding a
commission house able to dispose of our fruit promptly at current
rates, and sufficiently honest to make exact returns at the end of each
week. There are many who do this, and not a few who do not. If one has
not satisfactory business acquaintance in the city, I suggest that they
learn from their neighbors who have been in the habit of shipping
produce, the names of merchants that uniformly have made the best
returns. Moreover, it is often well, if one has considerable fruit, to
ship to two or more parties, and compare prices. The homely proverb
hinting that it is not wise to put all our eggs in one basket, is sound.
FRUIT PACKAGES
My experience and observation have led me to market my strawberries in
square quart baskets, and round pints, and raspberries in half-pints;
although pints answer equally well for a firm raspberry, like the
Cuthbert or Brandywine.
If I were shipping long distances, I would prefer baskets of which, the
round Beecher quarts and pints are the types. Such packages occupy too
much space, however, to be forwarded in refrigerators. I think berries
remain in good condition longer in this circular, open basket than in
any other. Of the crate, it is sufficient to say that it should be
light, strong, and so constructed as to permit free circulation of air.
Few of the square "quart baskets" hold a quart. Indeed, there are but
few honest baskets in the market; and the fact has come to be so well
recognized that they are now sold by the "basket," the majority being
aware that they are simply packages of fruit. I think there should be a
change in this respect, and that the several packages should hold a
full quart, pint, etc. Square quarts fill a crate compactly, requiring
the least amount of space; there is no chance for the baskets to upset,
and when the crate is opened there is a continuous surface of fruit,
which is very attractive. Very large, showy strawberries appear best,
however, in round baskets. If my market were a near one, I would plan
to dispose of the bulk of my crop in round pints, since they could be
used for strawberries, the firmer raspberries, and blackberries. Thus
one stock and style of baskets would last throughout the whole season.
A little good taste bestowed upon the appearance of a fruit package
often adds several cents per pound or quart to the price received, and
thus it comes that the brand of certain growers is sought after in the
market. A few green leaves, judiciously placed, cost nothing, but may
catch the eye and secure a fancy price.
After much inquiry in the market, however, I am led to the conclusion
that the size, quality, and appearance of the fruit count for far more
than ail other considerations combined.
The old Marlboro' thirds, still largely in use on the Hudson, should be
superseded as soon as possible by baskets that permit circulation of
air. We should use boxes cheap enough to be given away with the fruit.
There is a box of this kind, called the "Sunnyside fruit-box," which
can be obtained for about $10 per 1,000. The purchaser sees a pretty
box of fruit at a shop, buys and takes it with him, and is at no
trouble to return the box. The present frequent practice of pouring the
fruit into brown-paper bags is villanous.
Mr. J. T. Budd, of Wilmington, Del., in a sensible letter, gives
several excellent reasons why it would be better, and, in the end,
cheaper, to use such cheap crates and baskets that one could afford to
let them go with the fruit. The expenses of transportation would thus
be reduced, and the prices of the berries enhanced, not only because
the purchaser would not have the trouble of returning packages, but
chiefly for the reason that the fruit would always appear in fresh, new
baskets, instead of those soiled, and often musty, from long use. Mr.
Budd shows that, in Delaware, crates and baskets could be made
sufficiently cheap for this practice.
PICKING
Having procured the baskets which suit us best, the next thing is to
fill them properly, and get them into market looking fresh and
attractive. It is just at this point that very many wrong themselves,
or permit themselves to be wronged, The time is past when all
strawberries will sell as such, at so much per quart. Appearance often
doubles the price, or makes it difficult to sell the fruit at all.
Soiled, muddy berries, even though large, will fetch but wretched
prices; therefore the importance of mulching. The fruit may be in
beautiful condition upon the vines and yet be spoiled by careless
picking. The work is often performed by children, or by those who have
had no experience, or who, from inherent shiftlessness, do everything
in the worst possible way, I have seen beautiful berries that in their
brief transit through grimy hands lost half their value. Many pickers
will lay hold of the soft berry itself and pinch it as they pull it
off; then, instead of dropping it into the basket, they will hold it in
the hand as they pick others, and as the hand grows fuller, will
squeeze them tighter, and when, at last, the half-crushed handful is
dropped into the basket, the berries are almost ruined for market
purposes. Not for $10 per day would I permit such a person to pick for
me, for he not only takes fifty per cent from the price of the fruit,
but gives my brand a bad reputation. If possible, the grower should
carefully select his pickers, and have them subscribe to a few plain
rules, like the following:
1. Each berry must be picked with the thumb and forefinger nails, and
not held in the hand, but dropped into the basket at once.
2. No green, decayed, or muddy berries will be received.
3. There must be no getting down upon all fours in the beds, thus
crushing both green and ripe fruit.
4. There must be no "topping off" with large berries, but the fruit
must be equally good all through the basket.
In the early pickings of Wilsons, when many of the berries are of good
size, and of all the large, choice kinds, it is best to make two
grades, putting the large and small by themselves, and keeping
varieties separate. A small frame, with short legs at the corners, and
a handle, is a convenient appliance to hold six or more baskets while
picking. Give to each picker two sets of baskets, one for the small and
one for the large berries, and pay equally for both, or perhaps a
little more for the small ones, so that there may be no motive to
thwart your purpose; one and a half to two cents per quart is the usual
price. Have two styles of tickets, red and blue, for instance; the red
having a higher value and being given to those who bring the berries to
the place of packing in good order, according to rule; let the baskets
not picked in conformity to the rules be receipted for with the blue
tickets. Receiving many of the latter soon becomes a kind of disgrace,
and thus you appeal to the principle of self-respect as well as
self-interest. Get rid of those who persist in careless picking as soon
as possible. Insist that the baskets be full and rounded up, and the
fruit equal in quality down to the bottom. As far as possible, let the
hulls be down out of sight, and only the fruit showing. If you have
berries that are extra fine, it will pay you to pick and pack them
yourself, or have some one to do it who can be depended upon. Do not
pick the fruit, if you can help it, when it is wet with dew or rain;
still, there are times when this must be done to save it. Never let the
baskets or crates stand long in the sun and wind, as the berries so
treated soon become dull and faded. As soon as a crate is filled, put
it under cover in a cool place till shipped to market. As far as
possible, insist upon careful, gentle handling.
Raspberries should be treated with even greater care than strawberries,
since they are softer and more perishable. They should never be put
into anything larger than a pint basket, while thirds of a quart and
half-pints are much better. Round half-pints seem to be coming into
favor. There is a wide, shallow basket made in Rochester, that some
growers think highly of. With most varieties of raspberries, if any
considerable number are placed together they soon become a soft, mouldy
mass. The ideal raspberry basket, therefore, is small, open, and
shallow; and the crates should permit free circulation. Pick the fruit
when dry, and as soon as it is ripe, as over-ripe berries decay
quickly. Keep varieties by themselves. Mr. Parry says that raspberries
will pay at ten cents per quart, but the margin of profit will be
small. They usually sell at much higher figures. Black-caps of late
years have scarcely brought paying prices in New York market. The
following statement shows what a difference variety, and therefore
quality, makes in the same market. On the 7th day of July, 1871,
raspberries were sold at wholesale, in Philadelphia, as follows, viz.:
Black-cap ....................5 cents per quart. Philadelphia
................ 8 " Pearl ................... 16
" Susqueco, or Brandywine .... 30 " Hornet
..................... 60 "
Blackberries sell well in both quart and pint baskets, but if one is
sending a long distance, pints will carry the fruit in better
condition. One of the best methods of shipping currants is to have
tills, or shallow boxes, two or three in number, fitting in one's berry
crates, which can thus be made to serve a double purpose. Mark on these
tills the net weight of the fruit. For large, Cherry currants, quart
and verbena baskets are often used. Many like a long market basket,
holding about twenty-five pounds, while those who raise grapes often
make the same shallow boxes answer for both.
Gooseberries are shipped in all kinds of packages, from barrels to
quart boxes. I prefer a crate with tills, for both gooseberries and
currants. These two fruits, especially the latter, are becoming
increasingly profitable every year. In summing up, it may be briefly
stated that with all fruits, and in all the large markets, beauty,
size, and good keeping qualities are the points which are chiefly
considered. Very few know much about the names of varieties, but
eagerly purchase that which appears the most attractive. The grower who
can make his crates of berries, when opened, look better than others
near, will always receive good prices. If he tops off poor fruit with
large berries, he will scarcely find a market eventually. If he always
fills his baskets _well_ and _honestly_, and gives good weight, taking
pains to make his packages appear attractive, his fruit will soon be in
much demand and spoken for in advance.