Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-25
THE FRUIT QUESTION.
Marketing Fruits of Flor
ida and California.
BEST METHODS OF DOING 1T.
The New York Merchants Express
Themselves-All Shades
Of Opinion.

As announced last week, we give be-
low the views of many leading fruit
dealers of New York, in regard to the
distribution OF Florida and California
fruits. The practical experience of
these merchants in this, the largest mar.
ket of America, and their thorough
knowledge of the needs, prospects and
possibilities Of the fruit trade will give
more than passing interest to their
statements and should insure considera-
ton for their opinions.
Mediterranean oranges, as imported,
have for fifty years been sold here only
by auction. Believing this method
preferable to consignment and irregular
sales, Florida growers organized their
Fruit Exchange to control the products
of the State. and effect sales in the large
Northern coast cities, only through auc.
ton houses. The experiment was first
tried practically last season. but results
for various reasons were unsatisfactory.
1t is believed by many, that but a COM
paratively small part of this years crop
of 700, 900 boxes will be sold in this
manner, and there is much diversity of
opinion among growers and shippers, as
to " hat is really the best course to pur
sue.
California fruit growers are also de-
moralized; their experimental system of
marketing their fruits appears to be q
disappointment and they have been
strongly urged to try the auction plan.
The orange crops are now ready to come
forward, and the subject therefore pos
sesses unusual interest at this time. II
is an important question to the public,
which demands abundant and cheap
fruits; to the grower, who seeks wide
and advantageous market, and to the
merchant also, whose enterprise and tact
can alone make them widely popular,
and their extensive culture profitable.
Messrs. Vessels Il Co. importers of
bananas and oranges approve of sales of
fruit at auction, provided the bulk of
such fruit is disposed of in that way, but
think where the smaller portion of such
fruit is offered at auction and the balance
is in the han Is of the commission men,
the probability is that prices will be
higher outside of the auction room. For
this reason tho fruit from the Mediter.
ranean and the larger portion of that
from the West Indies is disposed of at
auction, on account OF all receivers sell.
ing it there. They do not believe the
sale Of foreign oranges at auction can be
contrasted with that of Florida and
California.
The only markets in which foreign
fruit is sold are New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore and at times
New Orleans. The major part of such
fruit is sold in New York. The entire
country is obliged to buy foreign fruit
in New York or one of the other sea-
board cities. In this instance all the
country buys in, at most, five cities, and
in greater proportion in our own city.
With Florida and California it is diff.
ferent, as by consigning to every poss.-
BILE point of consumption in the country,
the demand at auction sale for such
fruit in this and other cities is curtailed
just to such an extent as the shipments
to interior points increase or decrease.
Mr.. Jas. Williamson, of the house of
Hills Bros. 4 Co., believes it to be for
the best interests of all concerned. that
domestic fruits be all sold at auction,
instead of being placed in the hands of
general produce commission dealers,
who, he says, have little or no knowledge
of the needs OF the trade.
Mr.. e. Ruhlman, of the fruit firm OF
P. Ruhlman & Co., believes that
Eventually the bulk Of domestic fruits
| will be sold at auction, but the time is
not yet ripe for it. In order to make
that plan success, facilities here must
be increased; receivers must control
steamers and have better dock facilities.
Fruit must not be dumped on the dock
regardless OF weather. Mediterranean
steamers do not discharge in severe
weather. Their docks are large and
commodious and permit fruit to be prop
erly exposed for sale. Southern steam.
ers have no such facilities, nor has the
auction house proper conveniences and
room to show large quantities of domes.
tic fruit. People are afraid to buy at
auction. If they want good fruit which
they can rely on, they come to us fruit
merchants, and they always will. 1t
| will take five years of auction sales for
buyers to learn brands. Probably the
best disposition that can be made, both
of Florida and California fruits, will be
to send them to reliable fruit houses.
They can protect it intelligently, hold it
if it will keep, upon rising market,
etc."
Mr.. F. B. Chase says. II believe
Florida and California fruits will ulti-
mately all 60 to auction. or to few
fruit houses in the various large cities
m h n will 1iotrihuta II IT. 10 a orouip ~