Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-05
Organization OF Fruit Growers.

| The need Of organization amongapple
growers in Maine was never brought
home 10 them more fOrcibly than The
past season. Many were assured that
their fruit was wanted abroad but
| whenever they attempted 10 ship the
apples the results were on the whole
disappointing. If there were a1y
profits the middle man took them anl
when there were losses. legitimate Or
otherwise the fruit grower had 10 bar
them. The idea Of establishing such
an organization as might better protect
the fruit grower began to assume
definite shape at the winter meeting Of
the state Pathological Society and Is
progressing. In the last number Of the
Maine Farmer, Secretary KnOwlton Ct
the society has an Interesting article
upon this subject
He says in part. The large crop Of
apples this year. the prevailing low
prices ana in many cases the absence
of any market for the fruit has brought
TO the attention of Maine fruit growers
the importance of some better method
cf marketing. The peach growers. the
grape growers, and the orange growers
Ia the Middle. Western and Southern
states have been met by the same con-
dition in years past. and In large
measure have recognized the import
ance Of organized work among them
selves in disp0sing Of their fruit. They
have been working largely through
local unions independent of one an
other. and 10 their great disappont-
ment in many cases the returns have
been entirely unsatisfactory. The oc-
casion fer this has been largely due 10
the fact that the organizations like the
growers without any organization have
labcred without concerted action. In
cons sequence Of which there have beer
glUts and loss at one point, while at an
ether possibly nearer the grower no
fruit was to he had. The fruit grow
5rs from the West and South. realizing
from their own bitter experience that
this was the situation. are endeavor-
ing to meet this emergency by the or
caEizati0n. Of the American Fruit
Growers Union. with headquarters at
Chicaeo The purpose of tie organiza-
ton is to do Ter thu growers just what
the trade organizations do for the meT-
chant The members viii be kept
posted On the condition Of the market
GOV ring the demand and supply at all
central points so far as possible. In
this way il is believed the fruit may
he placed where Il is needed. and
though oftentimes the prices may he
low there may be some profit where
now The past few years there has been
loss. The union win also aim at sup
plying through it's members only fruit
Of guaranteed quality.
The general manager, Willis Brown.
Chicago, in recent letter to the writer
says upon this subject: Ii is
absolutely impossible for any one 10
always get good prices for goods, be-
cause of the varying conditions Of the
market and disappointment will nee
cssarv follow. The present conditions
are disappointing. The enormous pre-
ductiou Of fruit now throughout the
United States requires more intelll-
gent methods Of handling. Il is folly
WI n there is a large crop OF the fruit
I'M the country for growers to put bulk
apples ON the market. or anything hut
the first grade. IF they would ra'6
uniformly. ana i5pep back everything
but The first class. fruit, they would al
ways make money but when the hon
est farmer puts all kinds Of trash IN
the centre &C his barrels. it is utterly
impossible To sell apples for high
price. cxceut these who have cstab-
lished themselves in The markets by
honest packing There are 50 many
things that enter the picking. packing
and marketing Of fruit that ought TO
H. put under rules, so that uniform
,.-4l.i,foe win ba eocurcd that a union Of