The morning call., 1891-12-29
THE MAKKET SITUATION.

\ IAHitlN NpAlES ppuutuI VI ! he a LII
raises a question in regard to fruit-shippng
that is Just now engaging the attention of
fruit-shippers everywhere in tile State
They are beginning to realize that under
present methods there is very little chance
for the grower to realize as he osght from
his lahors. They raise frst-class fruit,
they send it out in good shape, but they get
no remuneratjye price for it. This is not
because California fruit is not wanted in the
East. 1t is not because the markets are
flooded with fruits from other lands, but
because of,faulty shipping methods
The oranges growers OF Southern Califor-
MIA are holding meetings this winter for the
discussion of this pro blem, and those at
Riverside have come to the conclusion that
until they conduct their business on bust
ness principles they cannot hope to prosper,
and accordingly they are organizing for the
purpose of marketing their product TO their
own advantage.
1t is encouraging to note how here and
there throughout the State this idea of the
necessity for concerted action on their part
to protect their own interests Is beginning
to be accepted by agriculturists. The secret
of the non-success Of The farmers in their
business arrangements is, in a word, the
lack Of organization among them. The
growers Of section should not merely
unite in shipping their fruit. 1t is not
enough to send it East TO be dumped upon
the market in Chicago or New York, there
TO cause glut, the loss from which invari-
ablF falls upon the grower, but they should
have their agents at these great shipping
centers. whose duty it should be to see that
the fruit is from there distributed among
the markets of neghboring cities. As 1t is
now the New York and Chicago dealers, to
whom the wholesale buyers from the in
terror must look for their supplies, are able
by virtue of their relation 10 both seller and
buyer to control prices to the decided dis
advantage of both these aud his own cor
responding gain. Last year the great bulk
OF CGlifOrnia's orange crop was marketed in
this fashion. The dried fruits, and in par
ticuar the raisin CROP have been this year
hauled in a similar fashion. This has not
resulted in q lowering of prices to the con-
sumer, who pays r0undly for what he buys,
but 1t has served tn cut the profits Of the
grower down TO point that scarcely iusti-
feS production, while the middlemen and
transportation companies have thrlven
apace.
There is no reason why every fruit
growing county in this State should not
have its growers association, with agents at
every great market center, whose duties, as
before indicated, should be to continue the
movement of the fruit to the markets of the
smaller Eastern cities and towns, and thus
prevent 1t from massing in any one market
that is thus able to apply the cinch to
grower and buyer alike.
1t is little too much to expect that, as
has been once or twice suggested by differ
ent Coast papers. Eastern buyers should
come out here for their goods. The de-
mand in the East for our products is not
yet great enough to justify such expectation.
Moreover. the farmer in his orchard is at a
decided disadvantage in dealing with the
buyer. The latter there fixes the price. ac-
cording TO how readily he can make the
farmer believe his claims of overproduction.
glutted markets, light demand ana the
whole gamut of other excuses for low offers
that the grower has heard and believed dur
ing years of experience in this sort of bar
ter. The Eastern agent for fruit-growers
could work at an advantage through being
in a position 10 know the exact state of the
markets. He could take orders intelIi-
gently, and, if necessary, could act directly
between the shippers and the retail dealers.
The carrying out of such system would
mean closer cooperation on the part of
the farmers than has ever yet been known
among that fraternity; but in this age of
combines. trusts and monopolies it is their
only safeguard If they do not so organize
and cooperate in the marketing of their
products, while it may not happen, as one
Southern California paper has declared in
evitable, that 1.-THE fruit industry in this
State will lapse into decadence and the
magnificent orchards of California again
become the playground of the rabbit and
coyote" still the farmers will continue to
grow poorer and the conditions under
which they work harder, until the livelihood
to be wrested from the soil is too laborious
and precarious TO attract any but those to
whom no other field is open.
We do not believe that such pass will
ever be reached in this State. The growers
are waking to the necessities of the situa-
ton, and it is probable that next season
Will witness revolution in our market
methods that will ease the situation for the
farmer. The reverse possibility exists,
however. and should be recognized in every
consideration Of the question.