The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12
THE DRIED FRUIT TRADE,
L. R. Wing, the Chicago Dealer,
on It's Condition in the
East.
Partial Failure of the Yield in France.
Disadvantages of the Position
of Growers.

1.-THE growers of prunes in California
have had this year an opportunity for the
introduction of their goods in the Eastern
markets that would under ordinary cir
cumstances have cost them thousands of
dollars.
''The partial failure of the French crop
at time when the market supply was
comparatively light has placed within their
reach the chance for the introduction of
California goods in certain quarters which
would ordinarily have been secured only
after years of repeated and persistent
effort on the part of growers and their
brokers who represent them"
This statement was made last night at
the Palace Hotel by Luman R. Wing of
Chicago, who has for long time been
prominently identified with the Califor-
MIA dried fruit trade in the East.
Every advantage has been taken ofthis
opportunity, and the results are Just what
were anticipated at the outset of last sea-
sons business. California prunes have
come into the market to stay, and the
ground which FIR ench shippers have for
feited by force of circumstances may be re-
garded as permanently lost; at least, SO
long as growers here continue to maintain
the standard which has characterized the
consignments of this season.
Consumers are invariably conservative
and disinclined to change from long and
successfully tried markets, and though
constant and persevering work would have
gradually won for the products of this
State the position which they hold to-day,
it would have only been accom- plished
"a -,
1.-The outlook IN the East at the present
time for dried fruits from California is, in
my estimation, most promising; and de-
spite the constant report which comes
from this section as to the loss which the
growers have suffered feel confident that
if certain conditions relative to the pack
ing, grading and discrimination in ship
ments are observed the losses suffered in
the past will be we'll worth the experience
which has been gained.
"Of course, we hear in the East about
the general dissatisfaction among growers
here, and the reports of the repeated losses
which it is said they suffer year after year
can be directly traced to causes which can
certainly be remedied.
"a great deal of the harm from which
growers suffer has been due to their fail
ure to discriminate in shipments. They
have seemingly failed to realize that the
California dried-fruit trade for the past
few years has been passing through the
stages of its inception, and that the early
i'm pressions formed by consumers have
been the only guide by which they have
been able to base future operations.
Instead OF using care in the making up
of their consignments and in forwarding a
class of goods representing a standard
which this State could easily maintain,
they have adhered to the old penny wise
and pound foolish policy and sent forward
to New York Chicago and other Eastern
markets, in company with their best
goods, big supply OF low-grade material,
the returns for which would hardly defray
the cost OF transportation.
This stuff Is, of course, sold. From the
wholesale men it goes into the hands OF
the retailers and purchasers, who, in re-
sponse to repeated solicitation to try Cali
fornia goods, get hold Of it. Their first
experience is unsatisfactory and they in
variably form prejudice which it takes
time to overcome.
Another disadvantage from which ship
pers suffer is the disposition shown to
place their goods in the hands of irrespon-
sible statesmen, who solicit consignments
by giving promises that under the most
favorable circumstances cannot be fulfilled.
absurd as it may seem there are large
numbers Of consignors of dried fruits who
to-day are shipping their goods to green
1rult houses and to others who are not
identified with the trade, simply because
their representatives delude them by
promises of returns which reliable COM
mission houses cannot conscientiously
make
1.-The results are always the same; the
grower suffers the loss which he has
brought on himself and the reputable COM
mission trade is accused of participation in
a combine which has been organized pre-
sumably to swindle producers.
There are enough reliable commission
houses to handle all the goods grown in
this State, and growers can always secure
a guarantee of the character of their sales
by comparison with current quotations" "