Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-06-05

CALIFORNIA FRUIT ABROAD
why There Is Not a Large Demand for
1t In Europe.
There is certain to be q largely in-
creased supply of fruit seeking a mar
ket within the next two years, owing
to the fact that the number OF trees
In bearing will be almost doubled with
In that time, say the San Francisco
Argonaut. Last year. in spite OF the
development Of the shipments to the
eastern states, there was a surplus, and
prices received were far below what
they should have been. Shipments 70
Europe have been made for a number
of years, but It must be confessed that
the results have been decidedly unsatis-
factory. The first shipment last year
was one of 1000 boxes of plums and
pears from Sacramento. Complaint was
made that some of the boxes were dam
aged and that the fruit was too small,
and the prices obtained were low. me
average price obtained for the pears,
which were Bartletts, was from $l.52 TO
1892 for a fifty-pound box; the plums
brought $3.50 a crate. Two weeks later
a consignment OF 10000 half-cases oil
peaches, pears and plums arrived. Ihey
were of good size and quality, and In
fine condition. But the peaches were
sold at from "a cents to $1.56; the
plums from u cents to $1.94; William
pears from 70 to "a cents; Hardys, $l.44.
The prices were depressed on account
of the large supplies of French II
English fruit in the market. Tne next
consignment brought 70 cents to $l.3z
for pears, $1.0S to $1.68 for peaches, n
S1.26 to $1.40 for plums. A week later
another lot arrived, and brought ~
cents to $1.24 for peaches, AZ to "a cents
for pears, and As cents to $2.O4 for a
very superior quality of plums. In
September the prices obtained were:
Peaches. $1.08 to $1.32; pears, 30 cents
to $1.32; plums, $1.74. 1t is evident cnat
these prices are not sufficient to Justi-
fy large shipments of California fruit
to the London market, when the cost
of freight, insurance and risk is con-
sidered. Yet. under favorable circum-
stances, there should be a large demand
there for the fruit from that state.
Some of the fruit sold last year was
purchased by German and Russian y
ers, and this market could be considera-
bly, increased. The trouble has arisen
from the fact that, owing to long
time the fruit Is in transit much OF 1t
has arrived in London in poor condl-
ton, and English buyers are suspicious
and unwilling to take the risk OF nav
ing it spoil on their hands. Again, the
fruit must be sold Immediately upon ar
rival, and in many cases 1t arrives 10
London when the market is overstocked
with cheaper fruit from other countries
1t is shipped to consignees, who nave nc
interest in the matter save to secure
their commission and charges, and II
the price obtained is not sufficient tc
cover these they have only to draw q
draft on the shipper here to cover the
! deficiency. The remedy lies In a re-
adjustment of the method OF conducting
Z the business. None but the very best
& quality of selected fruit should be sent
y and 1t should be packed with specia
: reference to the dangers of the Ions
{ transit and frequent landings. More
over, resident agents should be ap
: pointed in the principal cities of In
q East and Europe, who would be thor
oughly familiar with the differen
California fruits, and should b
e paid regular salaries instead OF com
missions. These agents, upon being ad
vised of a shipment of fruit, with fu'
information as to its condition an
: quality, would Immediately set inquire
on foot as to the demand not only
the cities in which they are located, br
in adjacent towns and n~eighboring lc
calities, and make agreements for tn
"a sale Of the fruit, conditioned upo II
being according to representation
r. They could keep the shippers here pos
a ed at all times regarding the condition
"a and prospects Of the markets.