The herald., 1897-11-18
Oeciduous Fruit Marketed
1.. ..by.an Exchange
A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
COMMITTEES REPORT ADOPTED.
VALUABLE WORK
A. H. Naftsger Explains the Meth.
DDS Of Citrus Fruit Growers.
Chief Organizer Elected

ods Of Citrus Fruit Growers.
Chief Organizer Elected
At the second preparatory meeting O,
the deciduous fruit growers yesterday
morning in the chamber of commerce
room. Chairman A. r. Sprague presided
and H. D. Briggs acted as secretary
Between seventy-flve and a hundred
growers were present and all sections OF
Southern California were represented
Immediately after the meeting was
called to order at 1915 General Formar
introduced A. H. Naftzger. president OF
the Southern California fruit exchange
who said that he had been requested to
give them an account of the working OF
the Southern California citrus fruit ex-
change. Mr.. Naftzger said that the con-
ditions they established were, first, CO.
operation at this end, and, second, as
little expense as possible at the other
end. Their organization has it's own
agents and does not depend on brokers
| or the usual channels of distribution.
1t was the speakers belief that If the
different industries of California should
combine their interests in the marketing
of fruit it could be done at minimum
cost. The Citrus association could en-
ploy men for only two. four, five or six
months, with only a few all the year
round, as it is not practicable for them
to use men at large salaries and Incl
dental expenses. By employing them all
the year, the same men could be held and
practice would make them better sales
men. In the system, no profits arise to
anyone; goods are simply marketed at
cost
Mr.. Naftzger showed how the various
corporations worked into each other.
In the first place, the local associations
packed the fruit and turned it over to
the local exchanges, which consigned
it to the Southern California fruit ex-
change, which markets the fruit through
it's regular agents throughout the east.
These agents send out two weeks in ad-
vance a forecast of the probable re-
quirements and estimates of what they
can handle. The orders are sent to the
central exchange in Los Angeles and
are thence distributed to the local ex-
change, which it is believed can for any
any reason best fill the requirements.
In thus shipping to regular eastern
agents the market is never glutted, be-
cause if it is overstocked in one place
the agent can divert to another. There
is no cutting of prices, no competition
with California competitors. and the
market is kept constantly and steadily
supplied.
Every month the output of fruit is
pooled and the associations or growers
can go in or not, as they like. If mans
fruit is not ripe. or the market is not to
his liking as to prices, he can stay out
until he gets ready; only, if he stays out
of the February pool hoping for better
prices in March, which do not come or
are worse. he takes his loss on his own
responsibility Each association has its
own brand, under which the same quail
ity Of goods is packed each year. If
any association allows it's goods to run
down in quality it is it's own loss.
The statement by Mr.. Naftzger that
q certain firm-not in the exchange
was packing in Orange county under
brand and boxes from another county,
and selling as from that county, pro-
VOkeQ cOISlueTdDlc ulSCuSSlOIl. NIL
Naftzger said the object of the Citrus
Fruit association was to reach uniform
ity and as high standing as possible.
The terms of sale were spot cash or 80
days acceptance. The overflow, where
there was any, was disposed of at auc-
ton; and here the association was of
great advantage to small growers, for
where the consignor's agents are not on
the ground at these auctions the con-
signor is apt to be scalped.
In reply to a question as to whether
there was any loss through consign-
ments being refused, ETC., Mr. NaftZger
stated that out of more than 81 ZOO, 900
sales in the past year, there was but $500
loss.
In response to the question whether it
would be possible for the deciduous as
sociation to fall in with the citrus or
ganization and use it's machinery, as the
lemon growers had done, Mr.. Naftzger
said it had always been theory of his
that all the Southern California fruit in
dustries should use the same machinery
and keep trained corps of men
throughout the year. The lemon grow
ers had appointed an advisory board to
act with the board of the citrus organ
ization. The deciduous growers could
come in in the same way. There was an
equitable adjustment Of expenses be-
tween the organizations.
At the conclusion of Mr.. NaftZger's
remarks, the secretary read the minutes
of the previous meeting.
Before calling on the committee for
it's report, the president said that the
reason the growers had not done some
thing together before was incompati-
bility of temper; that they could accom-
plish something only by making small
concessions and keeping to the main
issue.
The bylaws for the local and central
associations were then read. The old
question of drying on the grounds or at
the plant of the associations brought on
a heated discussion which lasted until
the noon adjournment, in which a num-
Der of individual views were expressed
and personal experiences related.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Mr.. Sprague opened the afternoon ses-
sion by putting motion to vote which
had been made in the morning and lost
in the shuttle Of discussion. The motion
was made by A. P. Griffith to the effect
that the report Of the committee be
adopted as recommendatory and sub
ject to any change that might be made
by the local associations. Carried.
The secretary next read the bV.1aWs