The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-06
A FRUIT GROWERS CHARGE.
ADDRESS By THE DIRECTORS
YESTERDAY.
What the President Of the Earl
Fruit Company Says in
Response.

At meeting of the Board of Direc-
tors Of the Fruit Growers Association
of California, held in this city yester-
day, the following statement was
adopted and sent out by Secretary f. c.
Niles
"The action of the Earl Fruit Com
pany, at Suisun on June 18th last, in
refusing to give crate shook to F. A.
Chadbourne. is one to be combated by
all fruit growers, for their whole in
vestments in orchard property are
thereby threatened with destruction.
IF any company or corporation,
largely engaged in handling California
fruits, can dictate as to whom it will
or will not serve, it amounts to an at
tempt to destroy the value of the prop
erty owned by the grower discrimi-
mated against.
The action taken by the Earl Fruit
Company against Mr.. Chadbourne is
condemned by all fruit growers, who
should refuse to deal with any COM
pany that resorts to such methods.
'The Board of Directors of the Fruit
Growers Association of California,
realizing the danger that threatens the
growers and knowing that unless some
action be Immediately taken in regard
to the determinations against the grow
ers, have carefully considered the mat
ter, and hereby announce to the fruit
growers of the State that where any
company refuses to furnish them with
supplies, 1t has made arrangements
whereby growers, who may be refused
supplies in the future, may obtain the
same. 1t has also arranged that their
fruit will be handled Independently. if
the growers so desire.
"All fruit growers are requested to
address the Secretary, at Penryn, on
the subject of discrimination, giving
full details, and prompt responses will
be given.''
MR.. EARL'S STATEMENT.
E, T. Earl, President of the Earl
Fruit Company. was interviewed re-
garding the matter, and stated that his
company carried limited supply of
box material used for Eastern ship
ments, in all the principal districts,
and was always glad to accommodate
growers who are shipping through his
firm with material at market prices.
In the case Of Mr.. Chadbourne. he
understands he is not shipping fruit
East through the Earl Fruit Company
nor any other firm, and that the ma
terial was wanted for San Francisco
shipment. There are numerous box
factories in the State that make a
business of supplying material such as
is used for San Francisco Shipments
and it was not the custom of the Earl
Fruit Company to carry supplies for
this purpose.
Mr.. Earl stated further that the agl-
tation which had been carried on by
few individuals during the last few
weeks was to be deplored, as there was
never time in the history of the Cali
fornia green fruit business when grow
ers were realizing as good prices for
| large quantities of fruit as they are
this season. Facilities for the shipping
and marketing of California fruit were
never better, transportation charges
are lower than ever known before, and
growers, who desire to sell their fruit
rather than ship it East on their own
account, have no trouble in finding
plenty of buyers, who are willing to
contract the fruit at the orchards and
nay cash for it, thus relieving them of
all risk.
| Mr.. Earl said that asAfar as the Earl
Fruit Company was concerned, 1T was
not in any combine of any kind what
ever, and he felt confident that the
great majority OF the growers OF the
State We're we'll pleased with present
/ conditions, and had no cause for COM
plant.