The record-union., 1897-08-22
APPEAL TO FRUIT GROWERS.
INJURIOUS METHODS OF MAR
KETING DRIED FRUITS.
Circular From the Northwestern
Wholesale Groeers' ASS
Sociation.

B. NJ. Lelong, Secretary Of the State
Horticultural Society, is in receipt OF
communications from the Northwest
ern Wholesale Grocers' Association Of
St Paul Mimi, relating to the alleged
indiscriminate and injurious methods
of marketing dried fruits in the past.
The subject is one that concerns fruit
growers, driers and shippers on this
coast, and these letters or circulars
may be of interest to them.
FROM A ST. PAUL FIRM
st. Paul, July 31st-Dear Sir: In
closed we send you a letter issued by
the Northwestern Wholesale Grocers'
Association, which they have asked us
to distribute over the fruit growing
States of California, Washington and
Oregon 1t speaks for itself and needs
no comment. The letter they refer to,
written April IL, 1896, we distributed
also, and, thinking perhaps you may
not have received one, or, if you did,
the contents is not fresh in your mem
CRY, we enclose you a copy of this let
ter also.
The injurious effect OF indiscriminate
cousigning is alike disastrous to them
and the shippers. This does not refer
to the consigning of goods through
regular established and competent
channels, where goods find their way
into the hands of merchandise brokers
and manufacturers agents, well in
formed upon the market, expert judges
of qualities and familiar with the meth
DDS OF handling these goods. Yours
truly, EMERSON & HALL,
Wholesale Merchandise Brokers.
IMPROVEMENT NOTED.
st. Paul, Mimi, July 31st.
To the Fruit Growers and Dryers of
California, Oregon and Washington:
This association, representing all the
wholesale grocers doing business in the
Northwest, who are the principal dis
tributors of your products, feel that
our mutual interests will be served by
again calling your attention to our
circular letter of April II, 1896, pro-
tsting against indiscriminate consign-
ing of dried fruits and other products to
irresponsible, Incompetent and some
times dishonest farm produce handlers.
We are glad to inform you that dur
ing the past year we have been more
free from the decentralization COM
planned Of This may be due in part,
to the fact that stocks were not so
heavy on the coast thus affording a
better basis upon which to make f. o.
b. purchases, and possibly, in some
measure, to the protests made by us
In view Of the prospects for an abun-
dant crop of fruit this season, permit us
to call your attention to the fact that
the jobber cannot. satisfactorily to
himself. carry full stocks of your pro-
ducts, if goods Of like character are to
be consigned indiscriminately to men
who have not the knowledge, judgment
or disposition to hold them at the
market price. (Signed), Northwestern
Wholesale Grocers' Association.
THE ORIGINAL LETTER.
ST. Paul, Mimi, April IL, 1896.
To the Fruit Growers and Dryers
Gentlemen: This association, repre-
senting as it does all the wholesale
grocers doing business in the great
Northwest, protests against the pres
ent demoralized condition of the dried
fruit market, growing out OF the indis-
crfminate shipments of dried fruits, by
the fruit growers of your State to farm
produce and green fruit dealers in this
section of the country.
The principal effect of this is, that
such shipments are thrown on this
market by such farm produce and green
fruit dealers at prices ruinous to both
the original shippers and to the legit-
innate dealers in dried fruits, and such
shipments are sold without regard to
their value, at whatever prices may be
offered for them. The goods are used
as bats to increase the sale of oranges,
lemons and farm produce and the
principal object sought to be gained, is
the commission to be earned, without
proper regard to the interests of the
shipper.
Such sales establish fictitious price,
and depreciate the real value of every
pound of like goods which we may be
at that time carrying in stock. Our
market is thus kept in uncertainty, and
legitimate handling of such goods is
made unsatisfactory and hazardous.
We feel that the interests of the CAL
ifornia fruit growers, the legitimate
handlers of dried fruits in California
and the jobbers in groceries (Which in
clude dried fruits, in this market, are
identical, and none of them are ben
Gifted by the slaughtering of goods in
the manner suggested. It is foreign to
our wishes or interests that the fruit
growers of the Pacific Coast should be
ruined by the sacrifice of their pro-
ducts in this market.
We therefore hereby place ourselves
on record as being wholly opposed to
the methods referred to- which are
subversive of the best interests of all
parties concerned; and respectfully rec
ommend to the fruit growers of Califor-
mia, that they should ignore delusive
circulars or personal solicitors from this
section Of the Northwest soliciting in
dividual shipments to unknown par
ties who may promise enticing returns
from such shipments; and we further
recommend them to dispose of their
products through known and regular
dealers or brokers in dried fruits. and
not otherwise. (Signed). Northwestern
Wholesale Grocers' Association.
POLICE COURT.