Types Of Markets

There are two general types of markets, the local,

which is a special market and the general or wholesale market, both of

which have different but definite requirements. The local market

handles fruit in small quantities, but usually with a larger margin of

profit per unit to the producer. As a rule delivery is direct in a

local market, and thus commissions are saved. Competition is also more

or less limited to one's neighbors. More varieties, including less

well known ones, are called for. Appearance does not count for as much

as quality, which is of first importance. Fruit may be riper as it is

consumed more quickly and meets with less rough handling. Packages are

usually returned to the grower. Special markets are often willing to

pay extra for fruit out of season, and they always require special

study and adaptation to meet their needs.



The general or wholesale market handles fruit in larger quantities,

usually with a smaller margin of profit. A selling agent or commission

man is the means of disposing of fruit in such a market, where

competition is open to the whole country and sometimes to the world.

Only standard well-known varieties find a ready and profitable sale.

Great attention is paid to appearance and comparatively little to

quality. Fruit shipped to a wholesale market must be packed in a

standard package, which is not returned, but goes with the fruit, and

must be packed so as to endure rough treatment. Out of season fruit is

not in demand, but even the general market sometimes has special

preferences.



Almost every market has favorite varieties for which it is willing to

pay a larger price than other markets. Just as Boston wants a brown

egg and New York a white one, so these and other cities have their

favorite varieties of apples. Some markets prefer a red apple, others

a green one, although the former is most generally popular. In the

mining and manufacturing towns working people want smaller green

apples, or "seconds," because they are cheaper. Many second-class

hotels prefer small apples, if they are well colored, as they go

farther. The fashionable restaurant and the fruit stand are the

markets for large, perfect, and highly colored specimens. Housewives

demand cooking apples like Greenings, hotels want a good out-of-hand

apple like the McIntosh, while private families have their own

special favorites. As will readily be seen, the producer's problem is

to find the special market for what he grows.



It has been said that different markets have special varietal

preferences, paying a better price for these than do other markets for

the same quality. We can only take the space here to point out a few

of these preferences. The Baldwin is by all odds our best general

market and export variety. It is the workingman's apple and finds its

best sale in our largest cities, particularly in New York and Chicago.

The Rhode Island Greening is a better seller in the northern markets

than it is in the southern, finding its best sale in Boston and in New

York. The Northern Spy is highly regarded by all our large northern

and eastern markets, is fairly well liked by the middle latitude

markets, but not popular south of Baltimore and Pittsburgh or west of

Milwaukee.



Central western markets appear to prefer the Hubbardson, but this

apple is fairly good in all markets. King is well thought of nearly

everywhere. Ben Davis is a favorite in the South, New Orleans

especially preferring it on account of its keeping quality. Jonathan

has a good reputation everywhere. Dutchess of Oldenburg is regarded

as excellent in Buffalo and Chicago. Wealthy, although generally a

local market apple, is well known and liked in all markets. Twenty

Ounce is spoken well of nearly everywhere. The Fameuse is not well

liked in the South, but popular in the North, etc. These particular

facts as to varieties are best learned by experience and by

observation of the market quotations.