Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1917 — ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE BOOSTS MARKET PRICE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE BOOSTS MARKET PRICE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

By E. VAN BENTHUYSEN.

A New York business man who was forced to a New Jersey suburb on ac•count of broken health, is making a good living by repacking fruit and vegetables which he buys from farmers and truckers, repacking them, and selling direct to consumer. He drives on an average ?0 miles, and the outdoor life has completely restored his health. Three years ago this man commenced business with a one-horse wagon. He repacked his fruit and vegetables with the aid of a small son, drove his own wagon and conducted the entire business practically alone. He now owns two double team wagons, and two single horse wagons,, covering four routes, each from 12 to 15 miles long. This fall he will supplant the two-horse wagons with a light guto truck, as he has demonstrated that he

' can cover a much larger territory with one of these vehicles and thereby save the wages of one man. This man Is simply doing what the farmers and fruit growers from whom he buys his supplies ought to do themselves if they would make all the profit there is to be made in the business. Growing the crop is not all of the game. Marketing is a good half of it, and perhaps even more. This New York self-made huckster buys fruit and vegetables just as they come from the farmer’s wagons. -They are delivered at his place, often covered with dirt, the fruit bruised and scratched, vegetables untrimmed and all generally unsorted. The fruit, particularly, the larger varieties, such as apples, peaches and pears, are carefully sorted and graded by the huckster, the apples washed, and the fruit is packed in small boxes or baskets', clean, uniform and highly attractive in appearance. Small fruits, such as cherries and berries are often dumped out of their original packages as they come from the farmers, sorted and repacked In clean boxes. Cherries are packed In boxes that hold from one-half to one peek and over the top

is tacked gauze to protect them from insects. All root vegetables are carefully washed, topped and bound in bunches. 7'omatoes are graded and repacked in clean baskets, and no damaged vegetables are offered for sale. This man can prove by his books that he makes a net profit of from 25 to 100 per cent by his method of handling and marketing. There is no reason why the men who grow the fruit and vegetables should not make equally as big a profit, provided they possess the faculty for organization and the patience and pride necessary to put up their products in a style that will most readily attract the eyes of This New York huckster uses covered wagons with three decks. Upon

these decks his fruit and vegetables are neatly arranged, and everything the wagon contains is covered with light cloth to keep off the dust and insects. He has a large list of regular customers among the residents of the numerous small towns of his vicinity, who buy all their fruit and vegetables from him, because they can depend upon getting them fresh, clean and sound. Of course this man’s trade Is mostly among women, and he leaves nothing undone which will attract their attention, and arouse their interest in the cleanliness and good condition of his product. His wagons are washed dally, his horses well groomed, and the harness kept clean and shiny; Once or twice a month he buys a big lot of sweetpeas or other flowers, makes them up Into small bouquets and presents one to each of his customers. i ' Little attentions such as these always make a friend of the customer, and this man has found that nothing counts more in his business than this kind of attention added to politeness, and an honest desire to* please the people with whom he does business.

Packing Products to Please Customers.