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of Using a 50- by 30- Centimeter Cell Box
for Exporting McIntosh
and Golden Delicious Apples

Marketing Research Report No. 847

Agricultural Research Service
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

.

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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Contents

Page
Acknowledgments ..........ccccccecececece iv
SUTIN ATV, « Uonarane sea wereuere minis) ait one eles resrareeecs 1
MG HOCUCUION: wanes oe wee ese ee eevee tae 2
Description and capacity of boxes............ 2
Description: sacar aisceres ocean eas ane 2
Capacity ueqae een rie sien Sree iae mee 4
PPOCCOUIE Ge wages oe Saree ow a ei eae ee 6
Bruising of apples and condition of boxes...... 9
BEWIsiNG Ob AVDIES «deci. vaeswas sx aaes 9
CONGIvION OF DOXGS s.sisos s+ as hwo death wen 9
(COStS and Charees (ri... acs wlerurs oS ace ee kee 10
Packaging materials and labor costs...... 10
DLOFAGe -COSUSt ti aww ec wlan ake ss adc wows 10
IPANSpOTt Charges | aloe cs on Saree ad it
Total costs and charges...............5. 12
Three-layer 50- by 30-cm. boxes.............. 13
Discussion and conclusions...............008. 14

Washington, D.C. Issued February 1970

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 25 cents

iii

Acknowledgments

The research reported in this publication was done under contract
by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers—The State Uni-
versity, New Brunswick, N.J. Morris 8. Fabian collected and com-
piled the data under the supervision of George W. Luke and
Frederick A. Perkins.

The following firms cooperated in the conduct of the research:

Chick Orchards, Inc., Monmouth, Maine

Ellis Paperboard Products, Inc., Portland, Maine
Inland Container Corporation, Spotswood, N.J.
J. Norinsberg and Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.
Simons & French Co., New York, N.Y.

Skookum Packer Assoc., Inc., Wenatchee, Wash.
J. P. Sullivan and Co., Ayers, Mass.
Weyerhaeuser Company, Westbrook, Maine
Wood Conversion Co., Norwalk, Conn.

Trade names are used in this publication solely for the purpose
of providing specific information. Mention of a trade name does not
constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture or an endorsement by the Department
over other products not mentioned.

Feasibility of Using a 50- by 30-Centimeter Cell Box

for Exporting McIntosh and Golden Delicious Apples

By EArt D. MALLISON,! formerly agricultural marketing specialist,
and DONALD R. STOKES, agricultural marketing specialist,
Transportation and Facilities Research Division, Agricultural Research Service

Summary

Fiberboard cell-type shipping containers,
50 by 30 cm. in length and width, were test-
ed for shipping McIntosh and Golden Delicious
apples to Europe. The 50- by 30-cm. box is
one of the shipping containers recommended by
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) for use in the interna-
tional trade of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Two cell-type fiberboard boxes most commonly
used by New England McIntosh apple packers
were selected as control boxes for measuring
the feasibility of using the 50- by 30-cm. box
for McIntosh apples. The cell-type box most
commonly used by Washington State Golden
Delicious apple growers was used as a control
box for measuring the feasibility of using the
50- by 30-cm. box for Golden Delicious apples.

Packaging materials costs, direct labor costs,
and transport charges from point of origin to
New York City and on to the United Kingdom
would be $0.11 more per box in the 50- by
30-cm. container than it cost in 1966 to pack
and ship them in a cell-type box used by a prom-
inent exporter of McIntosh apples and $0.22
more than in another box commonly used by
New England McIntosh packers. The 50- by
30-cm. box is slightly smaller than the two
boxes currently used. Hence, if ocean freight

1 Retired.

rates were adjusted to reflect the difference in
outer dimensions, the cost for the 50- by 30-
cm. box would be $0.10 less than that for the
commonly used full telescope regular-slotted
box (FTRSC) and $0.09 more than that for the
full telescope half-slotted box (FTHSC).

For Washington State Golden Delicious ap-
ples, the 50- by 30-cm. box would cost $0.27
more per box than the presently used cell box,
but if ocean freight rates were adjusted to re-
flect the smaller size of the 50- by 30-cm box
the additional cost of using it would be $0.14
per box.

The feasibility of using a smaller box holding
only three layers of apples, or roughly equiva-
lent to the 15 kilogram weight (33 pounds)
preferred by the Europeans, also was tested.
Use of this size box would increase the cost of
packing and shipping apples $0.45 per 38-
pound box for McIntosh apples and $0.48 per
44-pound box for Golden Delicious apples over
the cost to pack and ship them in four-layer
50- by 30-cm. boxes at 1966 freight rates.

There were no significant differences in
bruising of the apples during transit from point
of origin to New York City whether they were
packed and shipped in the three- or four-layer
50- by 30-cm. boxes or in the cell boxes presently
used for McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples.

2 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Introduction

A committee representing the member coun-
tries? of The Organization for Economic Coop-
eration and Development (OECD) is developing
standard containers for fruits and vegetables
moving in international trade. The committee
adopted the following outside dimensions for
boxes :°

Dimensions adopted as_ final—60
em. by 40 cm. (23.6 by 15.75 in.) ;
50 cm. by 30 cm. (19.7 by. 11:8. in.);
40 cm. by 30 cm. (15.75 by 11.8 in.).
Adopted ‘‘experimentally”—50 cm. by
40 em. (19.7 by 15.75 in.). Adopted
“temporarily” —56 cm. by 36 cm.
(22.0 by 14.2 in.); 57 cm. by 38 cm.
(22.4 by 15.0 in.) ; 44 cm. by 30 cm.
(17.8 by 11.8 in.). Tolerance: minus
Jem. (0.393710).

The Committee also adopted standard dimen-
sions for pallets as follows:

120 cm. by 100 cm. (47.24 by 39.37 in.)
and 120 cm. by 80 cm. (47.24 by 31.4
in.)

The boxes adopted as standard use 90 percent
or more of the surface, without overhang, of
the standard pallets.

If the use of such containers becomes man-
datory, shippers in the United States would
have to export apples in these standard con-
tainers rather than in those now in use.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain
the feasibility of packing and transporting to
United Kingdom ports United States McIntosh
and Golden Delicious apples, sized in accordance
with present commercial practices, in 50- by
30-cm. cell-type boxes.

Apples were selected for this study since they
have been exported in large volume for many
years to European markets. A box having out-
side dimensions of 50 cm. (19.7 in.) long by 30
cm. (11.8 in.) wide was selected since this one,
of all the OECD boxes, comes closest in size
to the boxes commonly used in the United
States for apples. Height varied with count size
of the apple.

Description and Capacity of Boxes

Description

A different size of box for each count size
of apple is generally used for cell-packed apples
in the United States. The dimensions (length
by width by depth) of the individual cells also
vary with the variety of apple. The Golden Deli-
cious apple is elongated and the McIntosh apple
is round and is flattened at both the stem and
calyx end. These conditions make it difficult to
standardize the cell-pack boxes with the limited
number of base dimensions adopted by the
OECD.

The cell boxes used in test shipments are
shown in figure 1. Dimensions of the boxes used

2 Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Federal
Republic of Germany, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the
United Kingdom, and the United States.

3 Recommendations on the International Standardiza-
tion of Packaging for Fruits and Vegetables, Organiza-
tion for Economie Cooperation and Development,
Document 85, 1967.

for McIntosh apples are given in table 1, and
those for Golden Delicious apples are given in
table 2. °

Control A and B boxes are most commonly
used in New England for McIntosh apples and
control C box is most commonly used in Wash-
ington for Golden Delicious apples.

All the 50- by 30-cm. and control boxes were
made from 200-pound-test double-faced corru-
gated fiberboard. The joints were glued.

Cell partitions commercially used for McIn-
tosh apples are made from 0.040 chipboard, and
those used for Golden Delicious apples are
made from 200-pound-test double-faced corru-
gated fiberboard. Chipboard partitions were
used in the control and 50- by 30-cm. boxes for
McIntosh apples. For Golden Delicious apples,
the double-faced fiberboard partitions were
used in the control boxes and chipboard par-
titions, in the 50- by 30-cm. boxes. The dimen-
sions of the cells in the experimental boxes
were identical with those in the control boxes,

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX 3

COVER

BOTTOM

FTHSC FIRSC

FIGURE 1.—Cell boxes used in test shipments from Maine and Washington to United Kingdom ports: Left, Full
telescope half-slotted box (FTHSC) ; right, full telescope regular-slotted box (FTRSC). Cell dividers are not shown.

TABLE 1.—Dimensions of 50- by 30-cm. and control cell boxes used for McIntosh apples in test
shipments from Maine to New York City, November 1965—January 1966

Box description! and Number Outside dimensions Inside dimensions Size of cells?
. ot rr ————
pouaia sie ob apples apples Length Width Length Width Depth Length Width Depth
Experimental (FTHSC),
4-layer: Cm. Inches Cm. Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches
DOO Spears Peitine 3 4 nccaaa 160 50 19.7 30 11.8 19 11% 1034 2% 26 214
GO BE 2 cassie, eh cev evens 140 50 19.7 30 11.8 19 11% 11% 21% 24% 21%
TA eee Specie ieiece Foo toe wes 128 50 19.7 30 11.8 19 11% 12 25% 25% 213%
Experimental (FTHSC),
3-layer:
Opicweseteke cca se aisle xe ve 120 50 19.7 30 11.8 19 11% 8% 2% 2% 21
0 Se 105 50 19.7 30 11.8 19 11% 81465 2% 2% 2116
IVAVS fea are eee 96 50 19.7 gaat 11.8 19 1% 6 25% 2% 2136
Control A (FTRSC): :
5-layer, 200.......... 200 49.1 19.3 33.5 13.2 185% 12% 12% 2% 2% 23%
4-layer, 160.......... 160 49.1 19.3 33.5 13.2 1858 1214 124 21% 24% 2196
4-Iayer, 140.......... 140 49.1 19.3 33.5 13.2 1854 12% 124% 25% 2% 2156
Control B (FTHSC): ; ; ;
5-layer, 200.......... 200 44.6 17.6 32.5 12.8 16% 124% 13% 234 2134 2%
4-layer, 160.......... 160 48.6 19.1 34.1 13.4 18% 1234 1134 2946 2% 216
4-layer, 140.......... 140 43.7 17.2 35.7 14,1 16% 12 3% 123% 22364 24364 218%

1 (FTHSC), full telescope half-slotted box; (FTRSC), full telescope regular-slotted box.
2 Size of cells in the 50- x 30-cm. boxes are the same as in control A box with exception of depths.

4 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FIGURE 2.—Boxes used for McIntosh apples, count size 160, in test shipments from Maine to New York City, Novem-
ber 1965-January 1966: Left, 50- by 30-em. (FTHSC) four-layer box holding 140 apples; center, control A
(FTRSC) four-layer box holding 160 apples; and right, control B (FTHSC) four-layer box holding 160 apples.

Note space dividers, or air cells, in the 50- by 30-cm box.

with the unused space taken up with space
dividers (figs. 2 and 3).

Paper tissue wraps and perforated polyethyl-
ene box liners were used for Golden Delicious
apples. None were used for the McIntosh ap-
ples. This follows normal commercial practices.

FIGURE 3.—Boxes used for Golden Delicious apples,
count size 80, in test shipments from Washington to
New York City, March-April 1966: Left, 50- by 30-
em. (FTHSC) three-layer box holding 54 apples;
center, 50- by 30-cm. (FTHSC) four-layer box holding
72 apples; right, control C (FTHSC) four-layer box
holding 80 apples. Note space dividers, or air cells, in
50- by 30-em. boxes.

Capacity

The net weight and density of pack for the
50- by 30-cm. boxes and control boxes of Mc-
Intosh apples are shown in table 3. The density
—nounds of apples per cubic foot of volume—
of the different size boxes varied from 18.7 to
20.7 pounds. Differences in density were also
small among the different count sizes packed
in each of the control and 50- by 30-cm. boxes.
An average of 94.7 percent of the cubic capaci-
ty of the 50- by 30-cm. boxes was occupied by
apples in cells as compared with 98.7 and 100
percent for control A and B boxes.

The net weight and the density of pack for
the 50- by 30-cm. boxes and control C box of
Golden Delicious apples are shown in table 4.

The density of pack for the 50- by 30-cm.
boxes is less than that of the control boxes. In
the 50- by 30-cm. boxes only 84.4 percent of the
cubic capacity is occupied by cells containing
apples as compared with 100 percent in the con-
trol boxes.

The various count sizes of Golden Delicious
apples are commercially packed in boxes with
different dimensions; that is, the boxes are con-
structed to fit the apples. It is impossible to
make all different count-size apples fit a fixed

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX

5

TABLE 2.—Dimensions of 50- by 30-cm. and control cell boxes used for Golden Delicious apples in test
shipments from Washington to New York City, March-April 1966

Outside dimensions

Width

Box description! and Narabee
nt size of les
Soy aiee os ePP apples Length
Experimental (FTHSC),
4-layer: Cm Inches
ID ssn ite Se 112 50 19.7
20 Rew sesh ons 96 50 19.7
OG MBBS Soy rertsioes ce does 72 50 19.7
SORA eee ees a ok 372 50 19.7
SOSH resi tees oes oan .scke 60 50 19.7
Experimental (FTHSC),
3-layer:
AQ HE en ee cok os 84 50 19.7
QO Ras or is 3. 72 50 19.7
Oe er 54 50 19.7
SOR ES Se sic es 354 50 19.7
OST P rece a.5 coc c. eos 45 50 19.7
Control (FTHSC), 4-layer:
VND) oe iin “ate are ae 140 51.4 20.2
MQM asia oniecsene-na es 120 46.2 18.2
Oa eee ee eee 96 50.0 19.7
SOM ee racee ees s 80 45.1 CET,
SOSMe eee icang ce le 80 47.3 18.6

1 (FTHSC), full telescope half-slotted box.
2 Size of cells in the 50- by 30-cm. boxes are the same as in the control boxes.
8In each set of cell partitions, or layer, there were 3 cells measuring 2% x 3144 x 3% inches. A small 80-count apple was placed in each of
these cells, which made a total of 72 and 54, rather than 60 and 45, apples, respectively.

Inside dimensions

Size of cells2

Length Width Depth Length Width Depth

Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches

11.8 19 11% 11% 25% 2% 25%
11.8 19 11% 11% 234 234 234
11.8 19 11% 125% 3 3 3

11.8 19 11% 135% 314 3% 3%
ies 19 1k 14% 3% 3% 3%
11.8 19 11% 8% 25% 25% 25%
11.8 19 11% 834 234 234 234
11.8 19 11k 91% 3 3 3

11.8 19 11% 1014 34 34 34
11.8 19 11% 10% 3% 3% 3%
14.1 19% 13% 11% 25% 25% 25%
15.2 174% 1414 11% 234 234 234
13.3 19 125% 125% 3 3 3

14.3 17% 135% 135% 344 344 3%
15.0 17% 14% 144 3% 3% 3%

TABLE 3.—Gross and net weights, volume, density, and percent of capacity occupied
in 50- by 30-em. and control boxes packed with McIntosh apples, season 1965-66

Box description and count
size of apples

Control A (FTRSC):

5-layer, 200...............
Aclayer, (60s 28 vee. c 6 ot
Azlayer: 140 ic. neces seis

INV CLA GCs crereieisic) «ars iter ae-

Control B (FTHSC):

Hslayer, 200.6 2050 cs ces eee
4-layer, 160...............
Aaa Vers LAO sc eecic gsicrorsinc.ss

AVETAGO Ss 2. see eaciee's

Number

of

apples

160
140
128

200
160
140

Weight!

Capacity

Gross Net Volume Density? occupied?

Pounds Pounds Cu.ft. Pounds Percent
34.9 30.7 1.54 19.9 94.8
37.1 32.8 1.64 20.0 93.8
38.6 34.1 Lvl 20.0 95.4
36.9 32.5 1.63 20.0 94.7
26.1 22.8 1.19 19.1 94.8
27.5 24.0 1.26 19.0 93.8
29.3 25.8 1.31 19.4 95.4
27.6 24.2 1.25 19.2 94.7
42.0 36.5 1.98 18.4 96.0
41.9 36.8 1.98 18.6 100.0
43.2 37.9 1.98 19.1 100.0
42.4 37.1 1.98 18.7 98.7
42.1 37.6 1.84 20.4 100.0
42.8 38.4 1.85 20.7 100.0
41.9 37.6 1.80 20.9 100.0
42.3 37.9 1.83 20.7 100.6

1 Difference between gross and net weight is tare weight of box, cell partitions, and pads.
2 Pounds of apples per cubie foot of box volume (outside dimensions).
3 Percent of box capacity (inside dimensions) occupied by usable cells.

6 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 4.—Gross and net weights, volume, density, and percent of capacity occupied
in 50- by 30-cm. and control boxes packed with Golden Delicious apples, season

1965-66
Number Weight!
Box description and count of Capacity
size of apples apples Gross Net Volume Density? occupied?
50-by 30-cm. (FTHSC), 4-layer: Pounds Pounds Cu. ft. Pounds Percent
1A Qsy ae ee eee ee ee ee 112 8.4 33.4 1.59 21.0 1.8
ADO iecsne ce ata ei ee 96 38.5 33.4 1.66 20.1 89.5
OG ae ee eee eee 72 35.9 30.8 1.79 17.2 77.0
SO SSRIs aoe ey cata ahem eer 472 41.4 36.1 1.92 18.8 79.3
SOs 3 dean scene eters 45 42.2 37.0 1.99 18.6 84.2
AVERAGE: (5. cia dine eceiacwaeene 39.3 34.1 1.79 19.1 84.4
50-by 30-cm. (FTHSC), 3-layer:
140 et ate re bee een ee 84 29.4 25.4 1.22 20.8 91.8
DD Oi ace gee eee tes ne eer 72 29.3 25.2 1.27 19.8 89.5
OG re are ees ore ee 54 27.1 23.0 1.37 16.8 77.0
SQ gohoe tasks see nee eee 454 31.6 27.4 1.47 18.6 79.3
SOS 2 sys eee eer: ees ene 45 31.3 27.2 1.52 17.8 84.2
AV CLARE narcotic aie netstat «eerie 29.7 25.6 1.37 18.8 84.4
Control C (FTHSC), 4-layer:
140 ee eee 140 49.1 43.6 1.95 22.4 100.0
QO AS siecle ee ee 120 47.3 41.8 1.97 21.2 100.0
OO re ea ee eee ees 96 48.3 43.1 2.02 21.3 100.0
121 0 Renee eee, ene ey Pe me ee 80 47.1 41.7 2.10 20.0 100.0
SOS sete see aes trae eee 80s 55.2 49.4 2.39 20.7 100.0
AV ETABC sec: .chons Merete sean eeerrers 49.4 43.9 2.09 21.1 100.0

1 Difference between gross and net weight is tare weight of box, cell partitions, pads, box liners,

and tissue wraps.

2 Pounds of apples per cubic foot of box volume (outside dimensions).

3 Percent of box capacity (inside dimensions) occupied by usable cells.

4In each set of cell partitions, or layer, there were 3 cells measuring 2% *3%X3% inches. A
small 80-count apple was placed in each of these cells, which made a total of 72 and 54, rather

than 60 and 45, apples, respectively.

size of box with fixed sizes of cells without
some loss of space. The 50- by 30-cm. box is
smaller than the control box. Larger apples do
not fit in the smaller box so well as smaller
apples.

Space dividers were used to form air cells
to use the space not occupied by apples. An
average of 15.6 percent of the cubic capacity of
the 50- by 380-cm. boxes for Golden Delicious
apples was occupied by air cells.

Procedure

Five test truck shipments of McIntosh and
five test rail shipments of Golden Delicious
apples were made from Maine and Washington,
respectively, to New York City to test the 50-
by 30-cm. boxes in comparison with the control
boxes. The 50- by 30-cm. boxes had the same
size cells, in length and width, as control A
and C boxes. It was believed U. S. apple ship-
pers would not want to change their apple-
sizing practices.

Arrangements were made with a packer in
Maine and a packer in Washington to use their
personnel and warehouse facilities for packing
McIntosh and Golden Delicious varieties of ap-
ples in the boxes selected for the five shipping
tests from each of these producing areas. The
apples were inspected for maturity, bruising,
and discoloration; only apples of uniform ma-
turity and free of injury were packed in the
boxes used for the five test shipments of each
variety.

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX |

Time studies were made during the packing
of each lot, and labor costs were calculated for
the packing of each lot. Labor costs were cal-
culated for the packing of each count size and
variety in each size of box.

Costs of the boxes and pads were calculated,
based on the square feet of fiberboard used in
the construction of each box. Material costs
are 1965-66 prices in quantities of 12,500 boxes.

Prevailing truck and railroad freight rates
were used to determine the transport charges
from Maine and Washington to New York City.
Ocean freight charges were based on the rate
in effect during the study. Also, theoretical
ocean freight charges were computed on the
basis of the actual displacement of the differ-
ent size boxes, assuming that eventually the
rate would be adjusted to reflect the space
occupied by the boxes.

The McIntosh apples were stored in bulk
bins at 32° F. from the time they were harvest-
ed until they were removed for sorting and
packing in the boxes. Three count sizes of ap-
ples were selected: 200, 160, and 140, with di-
mensions of 23%, 214, and 2% inches in
diameter, respectively. Maturity readings were
taken with a Magness-Taylor pressure tester.*
The apples averaged 15.1-pound test (firm).
Labor costs were calculated on the basis of
$1.25 per hour.

The Golden Delicious apples selected for the
tests were packed in conventional cell boxes
early in the season and held in cold storage at
28° F. In March 1966, the apples were unpacked
and the bruised and damaged apples removed
from the lot. Five sizes of apples were selected ;
namely, 140, 120, 96, 80, and 80 Super (s), with
dimensions of 25, 234, 3, 314, and 3%. inches,
respectively. The reading taken with the
Magness-Taylor pressure tester averaged 10.5
pounds (ripe). The bruise-free apples were
packed in the test boxes and placed in cold stor-
age (28° F.) until shipped at weekly intervals
during March and April 1966 to New York,
N.Y. Labor costs were calculated on a basis of
$1.60 per hour.

An experimental design was developed to de-

4 HALLER, M. H. 1941. FRUIT PRESSURE TESTERS AND

THEIR PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. U.S. Dept. Agr. Cir.
627, 21 pp.

termine the placement of boxes within the load
for use in statistically analyzing the bruising
data. Individual boxes were labeled and placed
in each shipment in a prescribed randomized
manner according to the experimental design,
with a different design for each shipment. At
the completion of the five test shipments for
each variety, each size of box had been trans-
ported in each representative position of the
load.

Each of the five truck shipments of McIntosh
apples included thirty 50- by 30-cm., 30 control
A boxes, and 30 control B boxes. The 90 test
boxes were loaded near the rear of the trailer
body so that bruising would reflect maximum
rough handling during transit. Typical loading
patterns used for the truck shipments are illus-
trated in figure 4.

Each of five rail shipments of Golden De-
licious apples included fifty 50- by 30-cm. box-
es and 50 control boxes. Because of the differ-
ences in dimensions of the 50- by 30-cm. and
control boxes and because of railroad container
and loading rules, it was necessary to load the
50- by 30-cm. boxes in one stack (near the
doorway) in a randomized manner. Control
boxes were placed in the stacks containing the
experimental boxes. Typical loading patterns
used for the rail shipments are illustrated in
figure 5.

Each box was inspected for damage as it was
unloaded from the truck at the wholesale ware-
house or from the refrigerator car at the rail-
road piers.

Thirty-six boxes (2 boxes for each size of
apple and for each size of box) from each
truck shipment of McIntosh apples and 40 box-
es from each rail shipment of Golden Delicious
apples were selected and taken to New Bruns-
wick, N.J., for inspection of bruising of the
apples—the remaining 54 boxes of McIntosh
apples and the remaining 60 boxes of Golden
Delicious apples were sold. Each box was
weighed, then unpacked, and each individual
apple was inspected and scored for degree of
bruising, as follows:

Extent of bruising Size of damage area
SUNG oe. tare eesetet onal 1% to % inch in diameter
Damace Gicies ces %4 to 1 inch in diameter
Serious damage .. Over 1 inch in diameter

8 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

aes eam

FIGURE 4.—Views of typical loading patterns for truck shipments of McIntosh apples from Maine to New York City.
November 1965-January 1966: Left, 50- by 30-cm. boxes; and right, control boxes.

FIGURE 5.—Views of typical loading patterns for rail shipments of Golden Delicious apples from Wenatchee, Wash.
to New York City, March-April 1966: Left, 50- by 30-em. boxes; right, control boxes.

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX

In addition, each apple was inspected for skin
discoloration, stem puncture, cuts, skin breaks,
and decay. The empty box, including pads, cell

9

dividers, liners, and paper tissue, was weighed
and then repacked with apples. The apples
were then sold.

Bruising of Apples and Condition of Boxes

Bruising of Apples

Bruising was nearly the same for the Mc-
Intosh and Golden Delicious apples packed in
the 50- by 30-cm. boxes as in the control boxes
(tables 5 and 6). For each variety of apples the
differences in the amount of bruising, by de-
gree of bruise, were not statistically signifi-
cant.

Condition of Boxes

All boxes arrived in excellent condition; no
damage was observed in any of the five truck
shipments of McIntosh apples and five rail
shipments of Golden Delicious apples. Less
than 2 percent of the labels on the boxes packed
with Golden Delicious apples were defaced in
varying degrees.

TABLE 5.—Percentage of McIntosh apples bruised in 50-
by 30-cm. and control boxes during transit, by degree
of bruising, in 5 truck shipments from Maine to New
York City, November 1965—January 1966

Number
Box description and of
count size of apples apples
50- by 30-cm. (FTHSC),
4-layer3
200 Peers =a ech etaee 160
WGOF eee den oa atu 140
AQ tories cedtueeeeis ay enslode 128
IAVELAGE wioicicis 5 vices a
Control A (FTRSC):
5-layer, 200........... 200
A-layer, 160.......22.. 160
4-layer, 140........... 140
AST CTALC scams oases siete oe
Control B (FTHSC):
5-layer, 200........... 200
4-layer, 160........... 160
4-layer, 140........... 140
Average.........55-

Degree of bruising!

Serious
Slight Damage damage Total
7.6 0.8 0.2 8.6
4.3 sD 0 4.8
8.3 2.0 Jl 10.4
6.7 gt 1 7.9
4.4 5 1 5.0
3.3 1.0 1 4.4
6.8 8 0 7.6
4.8 8 1 tye
2.1 A 2 2.7
4.3 1.5 2 6.0
7.8 1.5 4 9.7
4.7 Vi 3 6.1

1 Differences in bruising between boxes were not statistically sig-
nificant at the 5-percent level. Skin discoloration, skin breaks, and

cuts were negligible.

10 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 6.—Percentage of Golden Delicious apples bruised
in 50- by 30-cm. and control boxes during transit, by
degrees of bruising, in 5 rail shipments from
Wenatchee, Wash., to New York City, March-April

1966

Number

Box description and
count size of apples

50- by 30-cm. (FTHSC),

4-layer:
PAO: jiack a ienaiermtarscceaoneent 112
120). fiecaheare cancun eros 96
OG os ass trogen oars 72
BO iar 2 hosters betters 272
SOSccrnson oe eons 60
AVCTAGZC. 05.4.2 us oes
Control C (FTHSC), 4-layer:
AQ ardletes Veta s timangiteees
QO Mathai secs Poise 120
OG Prarie: Rea eee: 96
1) borers tairare Sencha nets 80
80S: case eres hang: 80s
AVELA BCS «0. 5 0s sheet

Degree of bruising!

re) Serious
apples Slight Damage damage Total
13.0 2.0 0.0 15.0
22.3 3.4 3 26.0
28.9 2.5 A 31.8
33.6 4.0 3 37.9
27.7 5.5 1.3 34.5
25.1 3.5 4 29.0
14.5 2.1 5 17.1
18.3 3.6 9 22.8
34.9 4.4 9 40.2
33.2 2.7 1 37.0
25.3 esl 4.5 36.9
25.2 4.0 1.6 30.8

1 Differences in bruising between boxes were not statistically sig-
nificant at the 5- or 1-percent levels. Skin discoloration, skin breaks,

and cuts were negligible.

2Tn each set of cell partitions, or layer, there were 3 cells measur-
ing 2% x3%%3% inches. A small 80-count apple was placed in
each of these cells, which made a total of 72, rather than 60, apples.

Costs and Charges

Packaging Materials and Labor Costs

Costs of packaging materials, including box,
cell partitions, and pads, and labor for assem-
bly, packing, and handling the boxes of McIn-
tosh apples are shown in table 7. The cost of
$2.15 for packing 100 pounds of apples in the
50- by 30-cem. boxes was midway between cost
of $2.01 for packing the control B (FTHSC) box
and $2.24 for the more expensive control A
(FTRSC) box. The 50- by 30-cm. box costs
more per 100 pounds of apples to pack than the
control B box because fewer apples can be
packed in it. But the 50- by 30-cm. box costs
less than the control A box.

The difference of 28 cents per 100 pounds of
McIntosh apples packed in control A box and
in control B box is because of differences in
size and construction (see fig. 1) of the boxes.
More square feet of corrugated fiberboard are
required for the larger size full telescope regu-

lar-slotted box (control A) than for the full
telescope half-slotted box (control B).

Costs of the packaging materials and labor for
packing Golden Delicious apples were about
the same for the 50- by 30-cm. box as for the
control box ($2.25 and $2.23 per 100 pounds,
respectively) (table 8). This is because the
chipboard cell dividers in the 50- by 30-cm.
boxes cost less than the corrugated fiberboard
cell dividers used in the control boxes.

Storage Costs

McIntosh apples are not packed into the ex-
port shipping container until they are ready to
be shipped. Therefore the use of a box of low
density would have little effect on storage
costs. Packers of Washington Golden Delicious
apples, however, pack them into the shipping
containers during the fall, because they bruise
less easily than they do after several months’
storage. Also they are less likely to shrivel

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX

11

TABLE 7 —Cost of packaging materials and labor for assembling boxes, packing,
and handling McIntosh apples in 50- by 30-cm. and control boxes, Monmouth,
Maine, November 1965—January 1966

Cost per box

C
Box description Number Packag- Be el
and count size of apples of apples ing! Box Packing Handling pounds
materials assembly? apples? boxes! Total of apples
50- by 30-cem. (FTHSC), a
4-layer: Dollars Dollars’ Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
PAO W Vie cetera Sele perce 160 0.5757 0.0062 0.0965 0.0078 0.6862 2.24
GOA seach erect 140 5945 .0062 0955 0078 .7040 2.15
A QR A tie tence cae: 128 6020 0062 0868 .0078 .7028 2.06
Average.......... 5907 0062 0929 0078 .6976 2.15
Control A (FTRSC):
5-layer, 200 ........ 200 -7362 .0062 1437 .0080 8941 2.45
4-layer, 160 ........ 160 6684 .0062 1073 .0080 .7899 2.15
4-layer, 140 ........ 140 .6844 .0062 1035 0080 .8021 2.12
Average.......... 6963 .0062 1182 0080 .8287 2.24
Control B (FTHSC): —
5-layer, 200 ........ 200 .6328 .0062 1243 .0080 .7718 2.03
4-layer, 160 ........ 160 6454 .0062 1028 .0080 .7624 2.01
4-layer, 140 ........ 140 6471 .0062 .0941 0080 7554 1.99
AVETAD Cs ca oo. 538 6418 0062 1071 0080 7631 2.01

1 Includes cost of boxes, cell partitions, and pads.
2 Labor costs required to staple boxes, based on hourly wage of $1.50.
3 Labor costs required to procure box and materials and fully pack the box, based on hourly

wage of $1.25.

¢ Labor costs required to handle each box twice in packinghouse, based on hourly wage of $1.50.

(dehydrate) if they are packed into shipping
boxes with polyethylene liners than if they are
stored in bulk bin boxes.

For the Golden Delicious apples, the reduced
efficiency in the use of space in the 50- by
30-cm. boxes as compared with the control C
boxes (19.1 pounds per cu. ft. vs. 21.1 pounds)
is offset by the increased efficiency in use of
space on the pallets on which the apples are
stored. The 50- by 30-cm. boxes fit 48- by 40-in.
pallets eight to a layer versus six or seven box-
es per layer for control C boxes.

Transport Charges

The ocean freight rate in 1966 for shipping
apples from eastern ports to Europe was $0.95
per box not exceeding 2 cubic feet 2 cubic
inches of displacement. The 50- by 30-cm. box-
es and types A, B, and most sizes of type ©
control boxes used in this study are less than
2 cubic feet 2 cubic inches (2.002 cubic feet) ;
therefore, the rate for each was $0.95 per box.

It is assumed that ocean freight rates will
ultimately reflect significant changes in dis-
placement of shipping containers. Therefore,
theoretical ocean transport charges were cal-
culated on the basis of the actual displacement
of the boxes.

Transport charges, per 100 pounds of ap-
ples, for shipping McIntosh apples to United
Kingdom ports by truck and ship would be
$3.38 in the 50- by 30-cm. boxes compared with
$3.54 in control A (FTRSC) boxes and $3.27
in control B (FTHSC) boxes (table 9).

Corresponding rail and ocean transport
charges for shipping Golden Delicious apples
to United Kingdom ports in the 50- by 30-cm.
and control boxes would be $5.21 and $4.91, re-
spectively, for 100 pounds of fruit (table 10).

The importance of high-density packs to ob-
tain lower ocean freight charges per pound of
apples shipped is shown by the relation of the
density of pack to the freight charges. This re-
lation is shown in the following tabulation:

12 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 8.—Cost of packaging materials and labor for assembling boxes, packing,
and handling Golden Delicious apples in 50- by 30-cm. and control boxes,

Wenatchee, Wash., March-April 1966

Number _ Packag-

Box description
of apples ing!

and count size of apples

materials assembly?

50- by 30-cm. (FTHSC),

Dollars
0.0062

Cost per box

Cost per

100
Box Packing Handling pounds

apples® boxes! Total of apples

4-layer: Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
ON eee oie 112 0.6148 0.1560 0.0078 0.7848 2.35
PU ee ecare Goose 96 .6181 .0062 .1267 .0078 .7588 2.27
OG i Sea ey ne ea 72 .6249 0062 1155 .0078 7544 2.45
SOA ew. terete: 572 6403 0062 1093 .0078 7636 2.12
SOSaae cence ieee 60s 6540 0062 0923 .0078 7603 2.05
Average.......... 6304 0062 1200 .0078 7644 2.25

Control C (FTHSC):

7 ere Rae PERN ar 140 .8570 0062 1938 .0080 1.0650 2.44
1208 cee eee ae 120 7841 0062 1631 .0080 -9614 2.30
OG tere kraaae hele: 96 7410 0062 1453 .0080 9005 2.09
SO nase 80 8106 0062 1289 .0080 9537 2.29
BOS team vat cco teo. 80s 8706 0062 1280 .0080 1.0128 2.05
Average.......... 8127 0062 1518 .0080 9787 2.23

1 Includes cost of boxes, cell partitions, pads, polyethylene liners, and tissue wraps.
2 Labor costs required to staple boxes, based on hourly wage of $1.50.
3 Labor costs required to procure box and materials and fully pack the box, based on hourly

wage of $1.60.

4 Labor costs required to handle each box twice in packinghouse, based on hourly wage of $1.50.
5In each set of cell partitions, or layer, there were 8 cells measuring 2% x38%X8% inches.
A small 80-count apple was placed in each of these cells, which made a total of 72, rather than

60, apples.

For McIntosh apples: Density Cost

Control @Agwiencs.cerciercrreier. 18.7 $3.54

50=" by 80=¢Ms..< oc6.0 52 0% 20.0 3.38

Controle Be ecccceman veces 20.7 3.27
For Golden Delicious apples:

50- by 30-cm............. 19.1 $5.21

Control ©. sacuwws os ae oe pales 4.91

Total Costs and Charges

The total for the packaging materials and
labor costs and transport charges is shown in
table 11.

On the basis of actual displacement of each
box, the total costs and charges (those affected
by type and size of shipping container) from
Maine to United Kingdom ports per 100 pounds
of McIntosh apples would be $5.53, $5.78, and
$5.28 for the 50- by 30-cm., the control A,
and the control B box, respectively. These

costs and charges per equivalent box holding 38
pounds would be $2.10, $2.20, and $2.01. On the
basis of a rate of $0.95 per box of 2 cubic feet
2 cubic inches or less, these costs and charges
would be $2.31 for the 50- by 30-cm. box, $2.20
for the control A box, and $2.09 for the control
B box.

On the basis of actual displacement of each
box, the total costs and charges per 100 pounds
of Golden Delicious apples would be $7.46 and
$7.14 for the 50- by 30-cm. and the control C
box, respectively. These costs and charges per
equivalent box holding 44 pounds of apples
would be $3.28 and $3.14. But if the smaller
50- by 30-cm. box is required to bear the present
rate of $0.95 per box of 2 cubic feet 2 cubic
inches or less, the total costs and charges per
box would be $3.41, or about $0.27 more per box
than the control box,

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX

13

TABLE 9.—Transport charges for shipping McIntosh apples from Maine to
United Kingdom ports, season 1965-66

Truck freight charges Ocean freight charges

from Maine to from New York to Total
New York! United Kingdom transport
ports? charge
per
ay Per 100 Per 100 100
Box description and Displace- Per pounds Per pounds pounds
count size of apples ment box of fruit box of fruit fruit
50-by 30-em. (FTHSC),
4-layer: Cu. ft. Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
200 wae ne eee he 1.54 0.307 1.00 0.732 2.38 3.38
GQ Pe cya rs 1.64 327 1.00 779 2.38 3.38
VA Qe probes eek et Sccstctaiene 1.71 340 1.00 812 2.38 3.38
IAVCTALC aed aces e203 1.63 325 1.00 774 2.38 3.38
Control A (FTRSC):
S-layer, 200 .......22. 1.98 .370 1.01 941 2.58 3.59
4-layer, 160 .......... 1.98 .369 1.00 941 2.56 3.56
4-layer, 140 .......... 1.98 380 1.00 941 2.48 3.48
FAV CIAL Oats oer nares 1.98 373 1.00 941 2.54 3.54
Control B (FTHSC):
5-layer, 200 .......... 1.84 371 98 .874 2.32 3.30
4-layer, 160 .......... 1.85 3876 99 .879 2.29 3.28
4-layer, 140 .......... 1.80 369 97 855 2.27 3.24
AWCT ADCs arate cies arlene 1.83 372 98 .869 2.29 3.27

1 Based on a cost of $0.88 per hundredweight. See Cost of Transporting Freight by
Class I and Class II Motor Common Carriers of General Commodities, New England
Region-1962, Group Il-Between New England and New York City Area and Beyond,
Statement No. 8-63, Cost Finding Section, Bureau of Accounts, Interstate Commerce
Commission, Washington, D.C., December 1963.

2 Charges based on actual displacement of each box at $0.95 per 2 cubic feet 2 cubic

inches of displacement.

Three-Layer 50- by 30-Cm. Boxes

Europeans frequently complain that the
boxes of apples exported from the United
States weighing 40 to 45 pounds are too large
for a number of reasons—retail store stocks
and consumers’ purchases of apples are smaller
than in the United States, and women that are
employed in retail stores do not like to handle
more than about 15 k., or 33 pounds, of fruit.
Trade sources estimate that during 1968 about
half of the apples grown in the United Kingdom
were marketed in the smaller, or ‘“three-
fourths,” size boxes.

A three-layer 50- by 30-cm. box was tested
in this study to obtain costs of packing and
transporting apples packed in a box holding 33
pounds or less. The average gross weight of the

different count sizes of apples packed in the
three-layer boxes was 27.6 pounds for McIntosh
apples and 29.7 pounds for Golden Delicious
apples.

On the basis of actual displacement of each
box, the use of the three-layer cell box would
increase the average cost of packing and trans-
porting apples to United Kingdom ports by
$0.24 and $0.22 per hundredweight for Mc-
Intosh and Golden Delicious apples, respec-
tively, over the cost to pack and ship them in
four-layer 50- by 30-cm. boxes (table 12). This
is the equivalent to $0.09 and $0.10 more per 38
and 44 pounds of McIntosh and Golden Delicious
apples. On the basis of 1966 ocean freight rates
of $0.95 per box of 2 cubic feet 2 cubic inch or

14 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 10.—Transport charges for shipping Golden Delicious apples from
Washington to United Kingdom ports, season 1965-66

Rail freight charges
from Washington to
New York!

Displace- Per

Box description and
f ment box

count size of apples
50- by 30-cm. (FTHSC),

4-layer: Cu. ft. Dollars
TAO Sean seen eerenis 1.59 0.906
120 Woes ener 1.66 909
OG Seece as sonore 1.79 S47
80 gon aie ees oe 1.92 976
SOS ze cciessciece cesta 1.99 996
Average............ 1.79 927

Control C (FTHSC), 4-layer:

1 F:1t eeeeceaine cae 1.95 1.158
11 eee erence erate 1.97 1.115
OG ieee eer 2.02 1.139
SO eee 2.10 1.112
SOs eset ote 2.39 1.302
ANGIE SOS eee a sction ae 2.09 1.165

Ocean freight charges

from New York to Total
United Kingdom transport

ports? charge
per
Per 100 Per 100 100

pounds Per pounds pounds
of fruit box of fruit fruit

Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
yy Al 0.755 2.26 4.97
2.72 .789 2.36 5.08
255 .850 2.76 5.51
2.70 .912 252 §.23
2.69 -945 2.55 5.24
242 .850 2.49 5.21
2.66 926 2.13 4.79
2.67 .936 2.23 4.90
2.64 -960 2.23 4.87
2.67 -993 2.38 5.05
2.64 1.135 2.30 4.93
2.66 .990 2.25 4.91

1 Based on a cost of $2.36 per hundredweight, which includes $2.27 for rail transporta-
tion from the Wenatchee Valley to New York City and a wharfage charge of $0.09 per

hundredweight.

2 Charges based on actual displacement of each box at $0.95 per 2 cubic feet 2 cubic

inches of displacement.

less, the costs would be equivalent to $0.45 more
per 38 pounds of McIntosh apples and $0.48
more for 44 pounds of Golden Delicious apples.

The three-layer boxes of McIntosh and Gold-
en Delicious apples were shipped from Maine
and Washington to New York City in the same

shipments used to test the four-layer 50- by
30-cm. boxes. No significant differences in
bruising, by degree of bruising, were found be-
tween the three-layer and four-layer 50- by
30-cm. boxes or between the three-layer and
control boxes.

Discussion and Conclusions

The dimensions of most cell-type boxes used
in the United States are made to conform to the
space required by the various count sizes of
apples. If all the various count sizes of apples
are packed into one size of box, some space will
be wasted for certain count sizes of apples. It
Was assumed in this study that, at least for the
present, United States exporters of apples
would not want to change their established
apple-sizing practices. If different sized apples
or if more than one size of apples were to be
cell-packed into one given size box, such as the
50- by 30-cm. box, it is conceivable that higher

density packs could be developed than were
developed in this study.

The results of this study show that it would
cost (at ocean freight rate of $0.95 per box)
$0.11 to $0.22 more per equivalent 38-pound box
to ship McIntosh apples in a 50- by 30-cm. cell
box than to ship them in the presently used two
main types of boxes. If ocean freight rates were
adjusted to reflect the actual displacement of the
50- by 30-cm. box, the cost for exporting Mc-
Intosh apples in the 50- by 30-cm. box would be
$0.10 less per box than in control A box and
$0.09 more than in control B box.

FEASIBILITY OF USING A 50- BY 30-CENTIMETER CELL BOX 15

TABLE 11.—Costs of packaging materials, packing and handling
labor, and transport charges per 100 pounds and per box! of
McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples packed in 50- by 30-cm.
cell boxes and in control boxes from production areas to United
Kingdom ports, season 1965-66

McIntosh Golden Delicious
50 by 80 Control Control 50by 30 Control
Item cm. A cm.
(FTHSC) (FTRSC) (FTHSC) (FTHSC) (FTHSC)
f ; Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
Packaging materials?........ 1.82 1.88 1.69 1.85 1.85
MAD OLR pice re eee teks 33 36 -o2 40 38
ALG balls? ee ae rede. 2.15 2.24 2.01 2.25 2.23
Transportation:
EL PNCK Mea sete Ssh ee 1.00 1.00 98 Bee se
Tash le caeeaere Bie pare a. oe ave 2.72 2.66
Occaneiene waite oe sieges 2.38 2.54 2.29 2.49 2.25
ROU drapes eee le ois 3.38 3.54 3.27 5.21 4.91
Total per 100 pounds..... 5.53 5.78 5.28 7.46 7.14
Totai per box:4
Theoretical ocean
freight charges?...... 2.10 2.20 2.01 3.28 3.14
1966 ocean freight
Charges. .cc\2c0s «22 2.31 2.20 2.09 3.41 3.14

1 Average of all count sizes packed for each type of box.
2 Cost of box, cell partitions, and pads; includes tissue wraps and polyethylene

liners for Golden Delicious.

3 Charges based on actual displacement of each box at $0.95 for each unit

displacing 2 cubic feet 2 cubic inches.

4 Packaging material and labor costs and truck and rail charges based on
costs and charges given and a net weight of 38 pounds per box for McIntosh
apples and 44 pounds for Golden Delicious apples; ocean freight charges calcu-

lated as indicated.

5 Charges based on a cost of $0.95 each for boxes not exceeding 2 cubic feet

2 cubic inches of displacement.

This study also shows that it would cost (at
ocean freight rate of $0.95 per box) about $0.27
more per equivalent 44-pound box to ship Wash-
ington Golden Delicious apples in a 50- by 30-
cm. box than to ship them in the presently used
(control C) box. If ocean freight rates were
adjusted to reflect the actual displacement of
the 50- by 30-cm. box, the cost for shipping
Washington Golden Delicious in the 50- by
30-cm. box would be $0.14 more per box.

If the U.S. apple industry attempted to meet
the demands of some European customers by
exporting McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples
in a three-layer 50- by 30-cm. box instead of
a four-layer 50- by 30-cm. box, the cost would be
$0.45 more per equivalent box (38 pounds) for
McIntosh apples and $0.48 more per equivalent

box (44 pounds) for Washington Golden Deli-
cious apples unless the freight rates were
adjusted downward for the smaller size box.
If the ocean freight rates were adjusted to
reflect the cubic displacement of the three-layer
box, the cost of packing and shipping McIntosh
and Golden Delicious apples would be only $0.09
and $0.10 more per 38-pound and 44-pound box
equivalent.

It is apparent from this study that it would
cost more to export McIntosh and Golden De-
licious apples in a proposed European standard
size box of 50 by 30 cm. than in our presently
used boxes. But, there would be some offsetting
economies not evaluated in this study. For
example, if more of our perishable products can
be shipped, palletized or unitized in some way,

16 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT 847, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TABLE 12.—Costs of packaging materials, packing and handling
labor, and transport charges per 100 pounds and per equivalent
box! of McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples packed in 3-layer
and 4-layer boxes to the United Kingdom ports, season 1965-66

Item

Sotelo Asien oe acts ac oer See ors

Total per box:4
Theoretical ocean freight charges’. .
1966 ocean freight charges®........

McIntosh Golden Delicious
apples apples
3-layer 4-layer 3-layer 4-layer
box box Ox box
Dollars Dollars Density Dollars
1.97 1.82 1.97 1.85
34 33 Al 39
2.31 2.15 2.38 2.24
1.01 1.00 Sse sees
ace Res 2.74 2.71
2.45 2.38 2.54 2.49
LS REKEL 5.53 7.66 7.44
2.19 2.10 3.37 3.27
2.76 2.31 3.89 3.41

1 Average of all count sizes packed for each type of box.
2 Cost of box, cell partitions, and pads; includes tissue wraps and polyethylene

liners for Golden Delicious.

3 Charges based on actual displacement of each box at $0.95 for each unit

displacing 2 cubic feet 2 cubic inches.

4 Packaging material and labor costs and truck and rail charges based on
costs and charges given and per 38-pound box equivalent for McIntosh apples
and a 44-pound box equivalent for Golden Delicious apples; ocean freight

charges calculated as indicated.

5 Charges based on a cost of $0.95 each for boxes not exceeding 2 cubic feet

2 cubic inches of displacement.

the use of one size of box, such as the 50- by
30-cm. box, would yield greater efficiency in
use of space in storage and in transport vehicles.
This advantage would be even greater as more
products are packed and shipped in uniform-size
containers, particularly when different prod-
ucts are mixed in wholesale stores and in de-
livery vehicles distributing produce to retail
stores. This should result in increased efficiency
in handling boxes and reduce product and con-
tainer damage.

Also, from the apple shipper’s point of view,

economies can be gained in costs of carrying in-
ventories of packaging materials if fewer types
and sizes of containers are used. Economies can
also be gained in manufacturing containers and
other packaging materials if they are compa-
rable in size and shape.

Therefore, in the short run, it would appear
disadvantageous for the U. S. apple industry to
export apples in a 50- by 30-cm. box, but not
necessarily in the long run, if uniform size
boxes could be developed that would be accept-
able to both foreign and domestic receivers.

yY U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1970 O—358—860