Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-11-30
FRAUD IN THE ORANGE TRADE.
Jamaica Fruit Rspaeksd aud Pslmsd on


Jamaica Fruit Rspaehsd aud Pslmsd on
~ tho Genuine Florida.
IA gross imposition," said IN expert
In fruit yesterday, ''is being practiccd
nv INSCRIPTIONS wholesalers OF fruit,
v o are selling repacked Jamaica
oranges Us genuine Florida oranges, Of
which there are mono In the market
Most Of the Jamaica oranges arrive
here In barrels, which are sold u
wholesale for from $3.50 10 IS each.
These wholesalers unpack the oranges,
and, after asserting them. wrap them
In tissue paper and repack them In
Florida boxes, mado for the purpose
and stamped with bogus and mlslead.
ing brands and trademarks AS &C.
lestsd Jamaica oranges closely resem-
BILE in outward appearance the real
Florida oranges, they are, when SO re-
packed, easily sold TO grosors and I'M
sophisticated retail fruit dealcrs. But
they ere Of inferior quality. Each bar.
rel contains two and half boxes Of
oranges. which, when cold rs Florida
oranges, bring from SO to 81 d box, or
at the rate OF from $50 to $40 q bur'
rel. The cost OF the boxes and the re-
packing Is only about 25 cents box.
"Florida oranges usually begin to
arrive In this market about the middle
of September, but are not Of good color
OF full favor till = month or more
later. The Florida orange crop last
year was estimsted at about 5000. 900
boxes, Of which fully oue-half was de-
sttcyed by severe storms and frosts,
which also killed the most Of the trees
Experts, who have rccett|y visited the
Florida orange groves, estimate that
the CROP thi. year will not exceed 1oo,-
600 boxes, and MAY net he more than
$4,000 boxes, all Of which sould be
readily sold In this city without ssri-
onsly disturbing the market, which, in
recent Years. has received from $4,000
to GO, 900 boxes week in the height OF
the season. Almost the entire crop
having thus been cut of, the more ex.
tensivc handlers Of oranges have been
seeking for new sources OF supply.
Four years will be required for the
restoration Of the Florida groves.
"Ptospectors from this city who re-
Gently visited the state Of Sonora
found Tiers large crop OF oranges OF
good size and color, which could be
shipped to arrive in this market ut
about the usual time of the arrival Oh
the first invoices OF Florida oranges.
The Mexican crop has hitherto been
consumed west OF the Mississippi river,
but 1t seems t'iis year to be almost
wholly under the control Of few
large fruit firms in baltimore and Kan
sas City, who were among the earlier
seekers for oranges in Sonora, SO that
It Is doubtful II more than $4,000 or co.
900 boxes will be available for this
market. Mexican oranges are better
than Jamaicas. but somewhat inferior
to Floridas. An invoice Of Mexican
oranges was sold in Chicago q few
days ago for from 50. Is to s3.55 q box,
which are considered high prices for
this time Of year, and arc equal to
about 9 cents an orauge at Wholesale.
The limited number OF Mexisan or.
anges which will come here Is mere
drop in the bucket The California
crop, estimated ut about $500, DOC
boxes, being mostly marketed In the
western states, will not materially
help the eastern market, which mus,
depend mainly upon Mcditerranea n
ports for its supply for q long time to
come. Oranges are likely TO be unusu'
ally dear until the prolific Florida
groves shall have been rcstorcd."-N.
W Tribuna