The record-union., 1897-06-26
CALIFORNIA FRUITS.
American Dried Fruits in the German
Capital.
How the Government Manages to
Discourage the Sale of Our
Products.

| Especial Correspondence OF Record-Unlon.)
BERLIN, May 30-Here 1 am in one
of the greatest capital cities of the
world. The home of Kings and Emper-
OrS and their courtiers. The first sight
in the heart of the city is beWildering
one The magnificent palaces on every
side, beautiful squares and bridges, ar
tistic statuary and a surging, ever
changing crowd of gaily dressed prom
enaderS make an attractive and faS-
cinating picture. The visitor forgets
for a time the mission that has brought
him here. He joins and keeps step with
the lively crowd. The brilliant uni
forms of the soldiers, the gay costumes
of the ladies, the ever changing street
scenes and the moving procession of
prOmenaders serve to keep one under
a spell until tired nature rebels.
Berlin is, however, not alone a great
social center but also a city of vast
commercial enterprise. American in
genuity pluck and perseverance have
found an able second in the business
world of this community. The Berlin
businss man has faith in the honesty
and method of the American merchant.
The great public, however, judges diff
ACICiiliy anu Has llOlulL5 DuL lLIlSl u uSl
and prejudice against the Yankee and
his wares. This prejudice, L believe.
can easily be traced to a reliable
source. The German Government is
for 'home industry and against i'm
ports" from foreign countries" All
sorts of issues are raised to discourage
imports and a special attack is di-
rected against the food product" of
America. To cite an example that will
| interest our California growers and
will at the same time serve as a val
liable lesson, will instance the mat
ter of sliced dried American apples.
This fruit was introduced here several
years ago and owing to it's fine quality
met with immediate favor, command
ing a very large sale. For some reason
the German Government ordered chem
ical tests TO be made of all American
dried apples, and as a result it was
claimed that these tests proved that
the fruit had been dried on zinc or tin
ned plates and the juice had absorbed
from or crystalliZed with the metal of
| the plate, thus forming a dangerous
and poisonous substance. People were
warned through the newspapers
against buying or partaking of this
poisonous fruit. Entire shipments were
confiscated; since then vast quantities
have been excluded from entering Ger
man ports. From that time all boxes
bear the packers guarantee that the
fruit has been dried on wood" and
yet large percentage of the public is
not convinced. The poison theory has
taken a firm hold, and to some people
look at the stuff is equivalent to a
visit to the grave yard.
Therefore take heed, you California
producer! Dry your fruit on wood, y
and on wood only, if you would please
the palate of the German. z
1 feel reasonably sure that our
choice California dried fruits will
find ready sale in German territory.
The people here appreciate good things
| and buy literally, provided prices are
reasonable and the quality uniformly
good. l strongly advise the California
producer to grade and pack his fruits
properly, marking his packages quality
a, b and c, or their equivalent If a
large export trade is to be created it
must be controlled and fostered by a
directly interested, and yet disinterest-
ed association. Interested to give the
best service to the home producer and
the foreign buyer; disinterested as to
personal gain, using sound, unbiased
judgment in all transactions
The duty on dried fruit is nominal.
amounting to about half a cent per
pound. Canned goods cannot be intro
duced, however, under present condi-
| tions. All Theoretically sealed wares
pay a duty equivalent to Is cents per
pound, and as a result the few Califor-
| mia canned fruits which have found
| their way hither retail at about 80 to
10 cents per can, according to quality
| an outrageous and prohibitory price.
| u visited quite a number of retail
| food stores. Those places catering for
| the everyday trade had never heard of
| California dried fruits. The stores
serving the better trade knew the fruit,
| and IN most cases had some on sale
In all but one instance the specimens
We're Of low grade, being dark in
color and generally unattractive in ap-
| pearance. The retail prices asked for
| dried pears, peaches, plums. etc, were
| equivalent to 221a cents per pound. For
prime apricots - cents per pound was
asked. These prices must be reduced
popularize California dried fruits in
| Germany. If peaches and pears could
| retail at about IA cents per pound and
apricots at IS cents the trade could be
largely increased. The prices which /
name may seem abnOrmally high to
your readers. They must take into con-
sideration, however, that first OF all the
| German pound is 10 per cent. heavier
| than the American pound. In addition,
| allowance must be made for freight,
| insurance, duty, agents or whole
salers' commissions and the retailers
profit.
| Fresh French fruits seem to command
liberal sale in Germany. The French
| peaches are fine in appearance. large
/ in size and reminded me Immediately
/ of our fresh California fruit. One deal
| er told me that fresh French peaches
/ had been in the market for nearly two
months. OF course, the prices asked
| for these fresh fruits make them all
article of luxury.
| In conclusion would advise the Call
| ifornia prducers of dried fruits to or
| ganize thoroughly. Dry your fruit on
wood. Grade same properly, and pack
only the best for export. Adopt a pop
ular trade mark and burn or brand this
on every box. All boxes must be uni
form in size and appearance, no mat
| ter where packed. and / believe twen-
ty-fve-pound package wim prove the
| most popular. The cases must give the
impression of having been prepared
under one roof and mana cement. Each
| grower belonging to the association
1 4T,t~-
number should be stenciled on the bot