Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-28

is really no good reason why the people
o. New York should not have beautiful
flaming California Tokays and Black Ham
burg grapes retailing in season from y to
Is cents per pound" This wine merchant,
whom we have no reason to believe to be
other than qualified to judge, adds
Some man with push and energy could take
hold of the enterprise, organize it properly, and
make fortune out of it, with supplying the
public with the best and most healthful fruit
that grows.
There is a hopeful positiveness about
this assertion that is gratifying, but an
other fruit merchant of New York is re-
ported by the same dispatch as more spe-
cifc and detailed in his expression:
Mr.. Everett. Of the fruit house of Miles &
Everett said the trouble is, that that there is no
organization in the business; AT present there
is no one in the market who buys California
grapes outright and sells them at reasonable
advances All grapes sold here are handled on
commission at every step OF the way from lne
grower in California to the hawker on the
streets Some commission man in san Fran
cisco takes grapes to sell for what he can get for
them returning a certain percentage to the
grower who sends them on similar terms to
some big commission house in New York. The
big house then turns them over to little houses,
these houses turn them over in small lots to the
hawkers and every time they change hands an
increased sum il fixed, which must be returned
by the persons who take them in this way. 1t
happens that the lowest price for carload of
Califo MIA grapes in fair condition. in New York
City, is eight cents pound. That rate 1t may
be thought would leave a margin for great
profit in hauling fruit, but eve'y man who sells.
all the way back 10 the commission house in
San Francisco, has to allow percentage for
afaady- oil there
the business, and prices are inevitably high.
Furthermore, the number of growers III Cali
fornia who are willing TO let their fruit go on
the commission system is small, and Tor risks OF
the business they must demand a rate equal TO
four or five times what they would sell ut for
cash. Let company be formed which VIII
keep men among California vineyards supplied
with funds, and ready TO buy on the spot with
cash then let the grapes be brought here by
quick freight, and sold directly to retailers.
There will be not ony enormous profit in it, but
business far beyond that done by the largest
commission house in New York during the
season.
The assurance of retail sales at from II
to - cents pound will be very gratifying
to growers who here get but from 2 to 3,
cents, and whose hopes have extended to
the realization of sales at the East at from
7 to 10 cents pound, and on which basis
it is certain unlimited quantities can be
sold OF course the growers of California
understand that the fewer hands the grapes
pass through the better the results at the
final sale for grower, vender and purchaser.
There has not been lack of organization
here among the fruit-growers with this
object in view, but there has been lack of
agreement as to the best methods to be
employed Nor is this to be wondered at
for the people on this side until recently
have been, by their own neglect and the
interest of commission men at the East,
kept in ignorance of the methods employed
by the grape-growers of other sections.
Thus the Mediterranean and Florida pro-
ducts are sold by auction in the Atlantic
coast markets. That is, the goods are not
put up to the highest bidder exactly, but
the privilege of choice is offered and pur-
chased, and, the selection being made the
next choice is put under the hammer, and
SO on to the close. By this means, it is
NAdihuSuj tliO PlOuuCSI anu Tie COllSuLlST
are brought the nearest together, the only
middlemen being the auction purchasers,
who by buying " choices simply secure
the grades of grapes their local
trade demands This method has been
gravely considered here, and has
very strong backing and the probability of
| adoption for trial at the meeting of the
growers to be held next month. With the
closer approach to harmony in agreement
and action by the vineyardists, the broad
concessions the railroad companies are said
to be now ready to make for carriage of
fruits, and the promise of feasible plans
being adopted for wide distribution and
speedy sale of our grapes at the East, the
outlook is a very bright one for the grape
growers. The way appears to be opening
by which the sweating away of the whole
sum realized in many commissions is to
cease, and our grapes become popularized
at the East. Plentiful they never can be
there, so long as cabined by the policy of
small sales and high prices. Our fruits
must be popularized, and wide distribution
and low prices at reasonable profits will
do it, and eliminate the long row of middle
men catalogued by Mr.. Everett.