54 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION Service [Circ 42 
sections to reach the principal markets in the United States. There- 
fore, other states are potential competitors even though they are 
separated by the width of the United States. 
The prices received by California growers for fresh peaches are 
determined by factors over which they have little control. These are: 
(1) the level of prosperity in the consuming markets; (2) the weather 
conditions at the time the fruit arrives; (3) the competition of other 
fruits and vegetables; and (4) the total amount of peaches offered for 
sale, which in turn depends upon the total production of fresh 
peaches in the United States. 
Drying Peaches—Growers may market their dried fruit through 
agents of independent packers who pay what appears to be a fair 
price, and thus the prices received will depend upon the reliability of 
the agent and the demand for dried fruit. Dried fruit may also be sold 
through cooperative associations, who return to the growers the market 
price received, less operating charges. 
The amount of total production of dried peaches exported has 
within recent years varied from 10 to 25 per cent. The production of 
dried peaches reached a maximum about 1915, and since that time it 
has gradually dropped off due to the lessened demand. In 1924 
Germany was the most important market for our dried peaches taking 
about 43 per cent of the total export. The United Kingdom followed 
with 17 per cent; Canada with 15 per cent; Netherlands 11.5 per cent, 
and Sweden with nearly 5 per cent. 
Canning Peaches.—Sinece producers of canning fruit have not been 
organized in many of the peach districts, they have sold their erop 
largely to local canneries or agents of distant canneries generally for a 
contract price. Growers who belong to a cooperative association are 
relieved of the direct responsibility of marketing. They are directed 
as to where the fruit should be delivered, and receive their payments 
from the association. 
The export of canned peaches to foreign markets has steadily 
increased during recent years. In 1925 about 15 per eent of the total 
pack was exported. The United Kingdom took approximately 79 per 
cent, with Cuba, Canada, and Germany ranking in the order named.