The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-04
ORANGE GROWERS ENCOURAGED.
Auspicious Opening OF the
Season.
: A Conservative Policy Inaugurated
by the Shippers.
Orders Already Pouring in From the East
Flood of inquiries for Quota
tionS
Los ANGELES, Jan. 3


The fixing OF prices for oranges by the South
ern California Fruit exchanges, Wednesday, as
exclusively announced by The HERALD, has
had the effect of settling the orange sit
uation. The wild talk that has been INDUCED
in about fabulous prices for the fruit &C
count OF the Florida freeze, has subsidized. The
feeling continues to be manifested, however,
that prices will be materially advanced before
the close of the season.
The action Of the exchanges in starting the
shipments at comparatively os figures Is gen
orally commended by the growers. OF course
there are tome grum blcrs, principally outside
the exchanges, who say the quotations given
out are preposterously low, in view of the con-
ditions prevailing i'll the east. The majority,
however think it is better policy to start in
low and increase prices as the demand and cir
cumstances warrant, than to make the figures
high at the start and possibly have to lower
them later on That would make it appear
that California fruit is unable to hold own
in the market.
CONSERVATIVE POLICY.
If prices were doubled now, as some think
the conditions would Justify, eastern buyers
would be frightened OFF and California won d
get the reputation of being uaduly greedy aud
disposed to play cinch game,
The executive committee Of the exchanges, as
well cs the independent packers, are pursuing
a conservative policy and have opened the sea-
son with prices that will bring fair returns to
the growers and that Will establish the reputa-
ton OF California for fair dealing AT the same
time leaving room for gradual advance as the
season progresses and the demand for Califor-
mia fruit increases
QUOTATIONS. FOR THE TRADE.
The Earl FrIit company yesterday quoted
prices substantially thesams those given out
by the exchanges. The top quotation made by
the Earl company is So 20 per box. f. o. b. Tor
extra fancy navels, and $175 for extra fancy
seedlings The various Other grades are quoted
the same as by the exchanges, as follows:
Fancy naveis, 80 90; choice, $I.75; standard,
$l.50; fancy seedlings. 81 so, choice $l.35;
standard, S1.2o
EARLY INQUIRIES.
Never before in the history OF the California
orange trace have inquiries been received go
early in the season from the far cast Tele-
grams by the score have been pouring in upon
the exchanges and Independent packers for the
past few days. from Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia and other eastern cities, asking for
prices and prospects for consignmtnls Here
tofore California oranges have scarcely been
noticed in these markets before the first of
March, and often not before the middle of
April
AN ENCOURAGING OMEN.
large fruit house in one of the largo At
lantic seaboard cities yesterday telegraphed to
fruit exchange headquarters in this city, ask
ing how many carloads of oranges could be
forwarded at once to be sold on commission.
The reply was: 1--WE DO not cOI,ian fruit on
commission, but wire our quotations.
A response came Immediately: prices salts.
factory; forward six carloads" specifying the
grades wanted, etc.
This is straw that shows the direction the
wind is blowing. The six carloads ordered will
bS speed ng eastward in h few days, and will no
doubt be the harbinger of many more consign-
ments to come. Coming from point far
east, 30 early in the season, Is a very encourag.
ing omen.
FLORIDA FROSTED FRUIT.
The Earl Fruit company haB information
from Florida that the railroads have reduced
the rates on oranges just one-half in couse-
quence of the loss of the crop by frost. This
means that the Flo idians will ship their dam.
aged fruit in large quantities. and that it will
have very demora 'izing eff>cs on the market
while 1t lasts. The frosted fruit. together with
the large importation from the Mediterranean
anticipated, Will have tendency to check the
demand for California fruit, for while at
least especially If the latter snould be held at
extraordinary prices On account of this cheap
competition 1T may be as late as the first OF
March before any fancy prices can be realized
IL the lar eastern markets.
THE ONE ELEMENT OF DANGER.
On the whole. however. Southern California
orange growers have every reason to be en-
couraged. There is only one element of dan
ger and that is frost within the next week. Mr.
+. I. Earl. one of the most experienced men in
the business, expresses The opinion that if frost
holds off the remainder of this week, the crop
is tcfe