The handling of berries direct to consumer is much more systematized and therefore proves more satisfactory to both parties concerned.  The majority of growers sell a considerable quantity in this way.  They pack in sixteen quart crates, and usually will not divide a crate.  The berries are for the most part delivered on order of the customer, for cash.  Each grower has his regular customers, and some advertise to a limited extent.  This method is usually satisfactory to the grower for he sells at a fixed price, and over that which he could get at the stores.  He finds that it pays him to furnish good berries, for if he delivers a poor crate the lady receiving that crate is sure to make it known to her neighbors, while a good crate will add to his reputation.  Therefore, the grower will take particular pains to have the boxes well filled with good berries and delivered promptly, in order to hold this trade.  In compensation he receives a good price, regular customers and a sure market for his product.

The amount handled through the stores is about equal to that handled direct to the consumer, but in some seasons it is not as great.  The grower demands cash, for he can get it at the other places, while most of the stores prefer cash rather than a trade basis, on account of the bother of handling the trade checks.  Some stores, by offering a higher trade price, try to draw trade, but this does not attract the commercial grower.  It may, however, attract the half-way grower.  Most stores do not try to handle more than they can dispose of themselves.  It is the small grower who sells to the stores.  The large grower cannot get the prices that will pay him to bother with the store trade, while the fruit houses do not want to handle the small fruit grower’s product, for it is usually of inferior quality.  Hence, the store trade is a necessity under present conditions, even though it is not a very satisfactory method.

The apples are brought to the stores in the same packages as to the consumer direct.  The berries are handled in the same packages, but the condition and quality are more apt to be inferior than with those sold to the consumer.  The stores usually re-sort the fruit before they sell it.  They very seldom ship fruit.  In case they get more on their hands than they can sell, they either store it for a few days, or sell to the wholesale fruit houses.

There is more fruit handled by either one of the two wholesale fruit houses than by any other single way in Mankato.  They handle the bulk of the apple crop grown commercially but will not take inferior fruit.  The small fruit growers market a considerable portion of their crops through them, especially in years when they have more than they can dispose of to consumers.  The wholesale houses offer no fixed price, except it be in a contract with some individual grower whom they know will bring in good fruit.  When a load comes in they look it over and bid on it.  If the grower is satisfied with the price, he sells, and if not he tries the other house or the stores.