Bu: tural 1 :C3 TEE DS1 ZJ COTTON BA&S AS CONSUMER PACKAGES FOR POTATOES ft on, D. C. -port nth of a 8eri08 relating to * ;tion .ican Cotton, published by the Eureau tural Economics. I published to dat' Partial List of Uses of American Rarz Cottc •ton Bags in the Wholesale Grocery Trad . Uses for Cotton and Its Products," "Cotton Bagging for Cotton," "Domestic Mill Consumption of American Cotton by Grades and Staple. . "Cotton Bags in the Fertilizer Industry," "Cotton Bags and Other Containers in the Wholesale Grocery Tra-i . ~»f the Cotter • ?d Sta (Year ending J 31, 1928)." The studies reported in this series arc a part % correlated program of research on : ilization American Cotton in which the United States Department of A , tho United States Department of ••■■•, .. the Cotton-Textile Institute, Inc., are cooperati. . SHI DS1 - BAGS A3 ER PACK; I E TATOES By J. W. Pnr'.c, Associate U Specialist, is ion of Fruits and Vegetables Along with I of st( ization in merchandising food creased u£6 of the small package to carry to the c, . ries as brea- , .:• and molasses are no. t ly sold in closed consumer pa-- e idea of merchandising potatoes in small cotton bags has been tried , and during the last season there has been a large increase B method in packing Idaho potatoes. This practice is of •ge interest to the fruit and vegetable industry, bag manufacturers and ot - . En order to deter .ant to which potatoes are packaged in small B opinion of the trade in regard to this practice, a survey was made by the Bureau of Agricultural Economic a in March and April 1929. Lo^ tatives of the Division of Fruits and Vegetables of the 3iu-eau erviewed wholesalers, jobbers and retailers in important markets and shippers in the late-crop potato producing r.cctions in regard to the use of 11 cotton bags in merchandising potatoes during the 1928-1929 season. 1 and estimates of the wholesale and retail trade as obtained ■ • rviews are summarised in this report. Principal State Shipping in Small Eags. Idaho there has been a large increase in the use of small bags in g potatoes during the 1928-1929 season. To the middle of March it war ated that about 700 cars of potatoes packed in small bags were ipped : State, which would amount to over 5 per cent of the total '- laments to that date. ttering shipments in small bags were reported from • , , Michigan and Prince Edward Island, Canada. There a considerable q-.iantity of potatoes shipped in cartons* For exa. , oped from 50 to 75 cars in 15 pound cartons* Some I es of the large sizes for baking purposes have boen packed s or box- . Sizes of Bags and Grade and Size of Potato Used. Various sizes of small bags have been tried, including the 15-lb., 2C- , -ib. and 50-lb. sizes. Botr. n and burlap have boen usod* [daho small -• ve been in 25-lb. cotton In lealers believe a 15-lb. bag would be more desirable. zing, : : , would be greater. Cn the whole the 25-lb. bag to be a desirable si; . In Idaho both the B Bvjbonk aad 1 -rieties were packed in small bags. It is -lly agreed • j.t potatoes for pa- inner should be U, S. !'o. 1 grad . Ono practice was to sort out the largo baking potatoes wej nces I and to pack the medium sizos in 25-lb. cotton bags. *.rade in general p 6 to 10 ounce sizes for this pac and states ^er potatoes do not pack well in small bags. :- Distribution of SrrAll Bag Shipments. tl tne ir3 of potatoes received in small a war 1*80 t .a per ce: .be total number .r-lot receipts. S ena .ots were reported in practically all large ncrthorn markets fro" :. • ic to tho Pacific Coasts. In the southern markets, however, * a few e. ntal ■. . e of package were received. Mc • .11 3a f j Stock Packed at Shic I -.ajority of potatoes sold in small bags we: Iced in this • point, although there has bee repacking at city markets particular n the Pacific Coast. Arg advanced in favor of packing at shipping point rather than at ation are: that it el es ex' . s expense including cost of original large , and .t closer grading at shipping point res -■nts in favor of r de3ti:. hat a high qua. par red because inferior stock including that rhich may have deteri- :ed in transit can be sorted ( is no soiling of cr 4 igfl in It; danger of damage from shifting of loads of small bags is ^h very little difficulty in thifl oct was "reported at rec< . Loadi: . hod of loading lfl practiced, a I ~ost Idj er3 loaded so as to give a clearance of about 6 inches on each side of the car; ..t of bags and after 5 or 6 la; place ie : . Car loads of 14CC or 1440, ?5-lb. bags of Idaho stock and 1600, : . it Montana stock have been reported. r -1 differential in car-lot price between I .lahc potatoe or 120- lb. burlap sacks and those in 25-lb. cotton bags in the 1928-2 season w;. rted as 25 cents per cwt; the small selling at t. rice. ifl 100 or 120-lb. burlap sacks cost around 11 or 1? eac . he 25-lb. cotton bag- cnt each. The extra or in pa the small bags amounted to 5 to 10 cents per cwt. How •::s for potatoes ir. 10 types oi -Id be kept in mind that tho potatoes parked bags probab, .aged a little "ado t I ->se pc larfr ferent cities as retailing a t ; re than the r.tity in in- the email bags have been ueed ae leaders and the differential in retail price hae been lc3s than 10 per c^nt. n Use ill Ba is a diviclon p . jobbers and chain I ae to tho ner ng potatoes in snail bags. 3 Relieve that this rill bo the principal type of packago for marketing : others disagree with this opinion. >al reasons advanced by the wholesale and retail trade in favor of • .mall bags are: that it is more convenient to ie potatoe small bag, especially when neatly branded is an re consumer package and has advertising value; that potatoes packed c .r • be bette: led than when packed in large sack : rill be no loss to the retailor due to a certain percentage of low stock a a3 is often the case rhen the bulk La use!: : the use of a standardized consumer •atoes is in line with the general movement toward .ting in standardized cor.. packages. Arguments against the use of the small bag are: that many consum< prefer to see the potatoes before b\\ that it adds to the co3t; i cotton bags may become soiled and unattractivo in appearance; that deterioration oocurj fter packing due to freeiing, sprouting or b would result in a reaction by consumers against this typo of pa-' .t there would be a tendency for shippers to lower the quality g pack, i. Lt had come into general use; that the season :ing which this package could be used in shipping potatoes would be limit- ed because of danger -of damage from heating in the early fall and from S spring. Most dealers agree that if the small bag pack is to meet with succe vie of potatoes used must be better than the average of potatoes sold large sacks or bulk. Potato prices have been low fearing the 1928-1929 seasor. ag which time there has been a considerable increase in the use '.he saall cotton bag as a c age. It is conjectural as to t any, a higher price level for potatoes would have on the use ".all bag. Use of the Small Bottcn Bag in. certain Cities 1928-29 Season. North Atlantic Region. BC . UASS. A few care in 15-lb. cloth bags were received from Prince Edward Island. The potatoes were mostly of medium size and better than U. S. Ho. 1 gra . - est outlet was grocery stores. rFIZLD, MASS. . r four cars were received in small bags cl ing the last year. Some were in 10-lb. burlap bags and were supposed to be Maine potatoes. Ly one dealer favored the uce of the small bag. He had :. bag moot popular with his trade. The chain stores have not ige and do not favor it: . I. and BW EaTST, OOHH. Ho small cotton bags as c were reported in thee :ie last sea: IT" Y.i-X, :*. Y. Probably more than LOO care >f potatoes La anal] cotton bags wer rect f,rom prod -ireas by . :hain stores th ' season. They wer-: from Idaho although a few cars and. The wholesale and jo: de received only a few small bag nhlpnu- (These were -ostly in ^d potatoos and met a v 1 denu.- >.e greater part of the New Tork receipts were in 25-lb. bags although were some 15— lb. bags. The general preference is for potatoes ize and of U. S. No. 1 grade or better. Some chain store • ne use of the small bag will increase York. Independ- is city have not used this package to any extent. Cartor. be- * : a considerable extent ^handle ing potatoc 'ew Yor . One car of Michigan potatoes in 15-lb. bags an : laho potatoes i. b. and 50- lb. sage rrere received. The Mi • oes wore firm, clean, medium ■ Ad met all requirements of ."hey were described by shipper as "selected Michigan pota- . " . .lo chain stores did not handle the Hichigan it is the p the cost as low as possible and to feature potatoes as a leader soiling them slightly above cost. The retailers who .ased these potatoes considered it an experiment and there was little in obtaining additional supplies in this package. sales of potatoes in small bags were reporte warl . J. :..-;; a few 25-lb. bags of Idaho potatoes were received in V PA. . . irs of Idaho potatoes in small bags were re- po:- . -in 25-lb. bags. class of stock preferred for sale . .1 bags in Philadelphia is uniformly graded me dram to large sized f bet - . . . 1. Most of the small bag shipmc .r^led through chain stores and wholesalers and jobbers who han- dled them found a limited outlet. , PA. ".• small bag receipt.- were reported. . , PA. The small cotton bag was not used in lilkes-Barre or Scranton. PI": • ::, ?A. Only a few small bag - snts in cars with other sorted on .ttsbur t -h market. These were in 25-lb. ba. . . e demand for the small bag type of . a was very Blow* general, it is not popular with Pitt rs« North Central Region* ;. About If full car load* of potatoes ill sacks and L mmber of cars c Dot r.mall and large wo. . 7 receipts wore all from Idaho and were mostly i. b. ■ ere some of th- . bo* Both cotton and burl; re was s.orr.o ^nce for the cotton bar;r. be of spp . orenco wi3 for to large sized stock, fairly clean and o: . . " . .>. rietien in t I Sunset Bvjbanko and Idaho Rural . Eta . esale and jobbing trp.de se*- • 25-lb. sacks because to handle, make a .ppearance and because the pot. an e in . er f t:. neral prefer t largo sizod sacks I tatoes as the uso of those enables t. to sell at a lower price . d bo possible if small bags were used. Idaho baking potatoes in snail bags we 7 Ledo. They "were all handle.' -oln stores and were re- vad well and were favorably received by the publ . Jobber rs hnv -.duced to handl. 1 bags . PI, OHIO. About 5 per cent of \ -ho potatoes .-ed q were bags* These were Russets . . is. Dealer. 1 bag rill . -. and indenp I favor it as to handle for both dealer and con! , OHIO, There was a limit by of Idalio baking potatoes sold in 10 and 15-lb. bags. About 35 to 40 cars of Idaho potatoes in small bags . ed in Detroit this season. opinion of the majority trade • .is type of r , ild be better than le and about 7 to 12 ounces in weight. The wholesale and jobbing trade in general was somewhat doubtful about the success of t packag -an, T l Minnesota stock, as they believed farmers .3 poorer stock on their hands if the better quality were )d to pac- --all bags. Son- u store operators thought there w a ■: i for selected stocl: of uniform size, "rut that there was a tendency for the small bag receipts to be of poorer quality toward nd of the season with a consequent slackening of demand. OratA] | 3, IBD. About 3 care of Idaho Russet Burbanks in 25- ■ bags • ved. I were selected bakers. The general -pinion of the .9 is that L -ood table stock put up in 15 or 25- lb. sacks would be desirable. . About 50 ears in small bags were received. The bi var Ity from 10-lbs. to 50- lbs. Practically all were from I and they were mostly Russet Burbanks. The consensus of opinion in the trade that potatoes packed in small bags should be better than U. S. Ho. 1 ion of opinion as to what the trend will be in ill ba^s. Some chain store operators and up-to-date lers like the idea and t lb. bag is a pr i meet the hour, ewife demand, mall retail gro :ow a dec: ..ce for the old method of handling potatoe . -TCAUKZE, VIS. A number of cars of Idaho Russet potatoes in neatly , cotton 1 old or. t irlcet this season. . and ■ . iwing in popularity e I h eott -ed or. b« else* Both the wholesale and retai! 11 bag© will have a tendency to Increase quantity sal«- . MI". *.'-"*. At it . cars of Mont I -lb. cotton 1 on t polls market. The trade els r.e of the small bag. Some dealen have r« to •ickcd in tnii , while others report a rather limited demax. . -e the idea and :t to e next Lgher cla: 15-lb. bag wou. adaot • I 50 c«trs cf Idaho potatces in 25-lb. ags were report .et this season. 1 P r m w n of store operi here ic a ve"y br: :~or r pry potatoes, but they agree that only potatoes of uld be packed in the small bags. '•'. WO.' In • re has been a few sales of Idaho •.toea all bags. lb. bag was I ze cf cotton bag mostly ' t,oes are preforabl- package . The ©pi] of the trade is divided as to the advantages br;. package for potatoes. 3halo stores ar es to any extent and the general feeling among them is that p potatoes, and that shipments in large sacks or bulk are le because less expensi". . There were receipts cf Idaho Russet potatoes in sns'- . Both the 20-lb. and 25-lb. bag have been used. The 20- lb. siae is sli^rhtly preferred. The preference -nana is for burlap in- stead of white cotton ar. a r.aterial for the 20- lb. and 25-lb. bags. The ■'.at burlap does not shew the c\ much as vrhite does* Far Western Kegi^. . . OOI/D. Only a few Idaho potatoes in 25-lb. cotton bagc were on the : . There is practically no demand in Denver for the small bag. , UTAH. Af- of very good quality, medi sized Idaho . . .;te cotton bags were received in City. The tatoe3 received favorable comment, probably . to the fact that t re generally of better gl ban those sold in ~ .:id jobbers have not worked up much enthusiasm over til bag in this market. Chain stores have found that ■for potatoes packaged in small bags ^e ..- feel that they are getting better potatoes those b PO: A half car load of potatoes in 50-1*. cotton bags was reporte e Portland market this season. The trade received this age favor '". Probably 40 or 50 cars of Idaho H Ball were receive Los An, r.is is two or three timec the A d last thia type of i . The 25-lb. size was the only cotton bog M-jod. 1 trade states that medium siz' *J. S. Ho. 1 grade ic the only kind of stc table for The "sale [ thinks that ad for • ill limited, is growl: -. Ihi shain stores in Lor. Angelos ap ' 9 be p - the small bag idea more than •doper. ; ores. There wa3 a considerable quantity repacked mall ba<\ n. • :y 15 or 20 cars of potatoes packed :o woro on the Han Fr'inr et this season. Uost of these . a few cars wore from Washington and Oregon. Most of the Idaho small bag shi: re the Ci ; -lb. size bags. A fen care from Oregon wer. b« and 15- lb. bags* Only medium siaed potatoes should be used especiall; 10-lb. and 15-lb. sized bags in the opinion of Sar. jo, dealers. The chain if porators thi: small bag will be • Lesalers are not favorable toward t pe of pac South Atlantic and South Central Region. .ere were no cotton bag3 on this market • The trade leal as t cess of such a package. *A r D. C. Jive oars of Idaho Russet Burbanks were received -lb. c bags and were handled by chain stores. The demand for ;ge was better in suburban stores and in districts where customers 16 automobiles in marketing as compared with districts where .-tomers usually walk to the stores and carry their pur aliases home. Unless exceptionally well graded potatoes arc packed in the 3mall ba^gs , the opinion was expressed that there will be little if any greater demand for the potatoes in small bags than for the bulk stock. LK, 7A. Vo potatoes in small cotton bags were received. AIUITA, GA. One car load in small cotton bags was reported and the experiment was not entirely successful. . "LA. There were no small bag receipts. "ZILI. ::":'. Ileven cars of Idaho potatoes in small bags (?p-lb. •e) were reported for the season on the Louisville market . Eight of these were handled by the chain stores and three by the jobbing trade. In addition re rras probably 40 to 45 cars of Idaho and Minnesota potatoes received in -lb. and 5C-lb. burlap bags. ME MP HIS, IBDT. Only one car was received in 2c-lb. cotton bags and was to bins by chain store receivers. - rade does not look with :>n the use of small containers for potatoes. NJsv. aNS, LA. ill bag potato receipts were reported on this mar>et . ^e cars of potatoes werr rt Worth in 10-lb., 25-lb. and 50-lb. cotton bags. Tht Lily on account of the novelty of the package, but I -.olesaler on thi was c Bit it required more sales effort I of .11 bags than in large ones. .od chain stores of r.r up 1 pot . paper bags which can be easily examined by .as B advantage over the small closed bag. . There were no receipt -.all c .A few ■lb. or 50-lb. burlap bags which met with a slow sale. . 1 ro were r. ts. r\c Pi ORiD* UNIVERSI ..ill I II Hill 111 1 " 3 1262 08918 7156