Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-08
Praise for California Raisins.

The american Grocer, in recent issue
says: Recently an active demand has
sprung up for the better grades OF Califor-
MIA raisins, while Malaga fruit is finding
slow sale. This led Us 10 an investigation
as to the relative merits of the California
and Spanish product Especial attention
was given 10 texture or toughness of the
skin, color, flavor, size and style of pack
age. II is only justice to say the samples
examined were those of well-known brands
controlled by w. T. Coleman e Co., firm
that deserves the support of the trade be-
cause of the warm-hearted announcement
it is giving American industries and the
continued and intelligent effort constantly
put forth to raise the standard not ONLY
of California sraisins, but all Pacific coast
products.
Taking Malaga and California raisins of
similar grade, viz. two crown loose, we
were surprised TO find the home product
superior in flavor, size, cleanliness, soft
ness, color and package. We say surprised,
because the average quality of the Malaga
crop of 1885 is far ahead of that 1891. I'M
porters of Malaga fruit have conceded that
California can and has produced rasins of
high grade superior to similar grades of
Malaga, and as proof, referred to the ex-
hibit made at the New Orleans Exposition.
And yet we doubted the assertion, but now
are pleased 10 place ourselves OH record as
fully indOrsing the statement. In point of
flavor we have never tasted high grade
Malaga raisin that was superior to some
from California. tested on Thursday last.
As regards the skin, il was thin and tender.
Candor, however, compels US. in the inter
est Of home production, TO say 10 the Cali
fornia growers and packers that they must
advance their average of quality. There is
variation in color to be overcome 1t is
largely due 10 defects in curing, and they
can be wholly or partially avoided Even
on the same cluster we notice marked
difference in color. While low grade Nal
aga raisins show like variation, VIC find the
finest grades free from that imperfection.
California packers have proven they can
pack high grade raisins, and have them
show the same beauty OF bloom and uni
formity of color as the fancy brands OF
Malaga. Their aim should be more than a
demonstration-a determination that the
marketable product should be of the high
est possible grade.
California London layers would find
greater favor if the same weight was packed
in larger boxes and not as close as at pres
ent. That may seem trivial matter. and
vet 1t has an important bearing upon the
price and reputation of brand.
1t is worse than useless to send low
grades to the Eastern market, which re-
quires and will take only the higher grades
There is great future for the California
raisin industry if it will profit by expert
ence. We want to see the energy and in
terest manifested by w. p. Coleman & Co
in introducing domestic raisins backed up
by like spirit on the part of the growers
and packers of the Pacific coast to do their
part of the work in a superior manner
They have the climate, the soil, and all
they lack is the experience. There must be
a constant putting forth of their best effort
1t must also be borne in mind that the for
eign growers are wide awake. While they
now send the finest Malaga fruit to Eng
land, they will as soon as they see their
hold on this market slipping away by rea-
son of California competition, raise the
standard of American shipments. Hence
the American growers and packers must re-
solve-first place or none"