The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-07
The Fruit Exchange.

In order To induce orange growers 10
patronize the Florida Fruit Exchange,
some OF it's officers are indulging in
statements that seem decidedly wild.
For inst ance, Mr.. ID. Greenleaf, IN his
communication 10 one of the Jackson
vile dealers. says there will be, in the
{ Judgment of the best citizens IN the
| State. fully 1000. 600 boxes of oranges
next year, and that the crop will not be
/ worth picking unless the growers turn
! in and DatroniZe the Exchange, or words
to this effect. Mr.. Greenleaf Is mis-
/ taken: there will he no such yield next
year, but if there were, 1t will pay TO
/ pick and sell it. The manner of market
/ ing our fruit crop * improving each
year. In almost every city OF Impor-
tance the crop is generally IN the hands
. OF the best dealers and commission men.
! The Exchange is doing mucn to concen-
trate the bushes. and bring up prices.
But, IN our judgment, statements like
! that of MIR. GTeenleaf are of no advan-
/ tage To The Exchange. There has al
ready been too much blowing and stri-
king" for that worthy enterprise. 1t
would be better to let it take its chances
with other commission houses. and stand
or fall on its own merits. Too much
drumming has already been INDUCED
in. The growers understand its methods,
and will pstroniZe it or not a. they
think best. The large growers al
ready have satisfactory methods of dis
posing of their crops, and do not need
the aid of the Exchange. Why not let
! them alone: They are practically carry
/ ing out the purpose of the Exchange
/ concentrating the business. Ii Is the
/ thousand aud one growers, who have no
/ facilities. that need the Exchange, and
these will patronize il rs results prove
! Favorable or nor.
! We believe the Exchange. IN its plans,
/ is good, hut it must 10 something be
sides To secure the COZ tidence aud pat
ronsgs of the growers. If results are
favorable this year. the business Of the
/ Exchange will be largely increased next
year.
| Let us suggest that the worthy Off
Gers quit talking, and give the Exchange
q chance TO quietly work out its own
salvation" The bIg growers will not
concentrate in the sense demanded by
Mr.. Greenleaf The Exchange was not
established for them. They have TO
/ special need of it. They have for wears
been perfecting plans for the ci~posal OF
I their annual crops. and they will not
give up their results Ia induis.. in an eX-
pertinent.
The Exchange itself depends on the
| commission men. 80 do the large grow
srs. The uoiut is To keep the business in
the hands of reputable dealers and de
pend on the public for prices. There Is
no such thing as making monopoly Of
the business. II must I've free like other
things, and efforts made to reach as
large a number OF consumers as possible.
We should like TO see the Exchange
succeed, and it will if judiciously man
aged. Fruit growers are not patronizing
it as generally this year ~ they prnbabl,
| will next season. when the results OF
this years wor'- y made known. The
Exchange viii not steal, and that is a
great point gained II seems 70 us thst
the worthy gentlemen who have its IN
terests in hand have only to hide their
time to control a large proportion OF the
trade of the State and to gain the point
they set out to secure. that of Concentra-
ton. CALIFORNIA; plan can never he our
plan. no matter how successful 1t may
be TO the growers of the Pacific coast.
That j. the land Of mouopol'es, and the
fruit business Is in the hands OF rich
owners who have the power To concen-
trate aud dictate terms 10 transportation
companies. We must depend on the
public for our sue, rss. and the larger the
the range of Our distribution the better
for us. We do hot believe in the ''disas-
ter" predicted 10y Mr.. Greenleaf. He
talks very plainly, but he Will fat. in Sc
curing the confidence of the orange
growers until the Exchange has shown
results that will commend general pat
ror age.