The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-12-26
OREGON
PRUNE
INDUSTRY
remarkable Development of
a Few Years
Salem the Center Of a Great
Fruit Packing Business

1t is stated by those in position to
know that Oregon has produced this
season 100000 pounds of prunes
thls was season when only a few
Oh the most favored districts pro
duced more than half a crop. all of
this product has already found it's
way into the hands Of the distributors
and consumers, and the demand is
sun active. Could the pessimlst of a
Ie" years ago, have looked into the
conditions Of today. he would not have
sung his song Of over production al
time when II was difficult matter
Tor the buyer to secure single cars
Of even quality fruit at any point
in the state, and that time is easily
within the memory Of most of the
dealers of today. Because Of the un.
satisfactory market conditions and the
prejudice Of the average eastern deal.
er against our prunes, many growers
lost heart and gave up the battle.
There were those, however. who dill.
gently cared for their orchards.
studying every feature Of horticulture
bearing upon the prune industry, the
result Is that in the vicinity of Salem
We have about $500 acres Of as fine
prune orchards as can be found in any.
country With a full crop Of prunes
these orchards require very large
drying house capacity, the present
capacity will yet have to be greatly
increased, at the present time the
average investment per acre for dry.
ing equipment is probably about $50
to 500. The harvesting and curing of
the fruit also represents a vast
amount Of labor for all classes, men,
women and children; many make it
the occasion of a profitable outing
and holiday, and camp, hard by the
orchards during the fruit season. The
Orchardist estimates that the harvest
ing and curing Of his prunes in his
own plant cost him about 500 to $50
per acre according to varying condi.
tions.
Il will be easily seen from the above
that the pune industry is an import
ant distributor OF money directly to
the wage Garner and Is therefore a
valuable factor in building up a pros.
porous community. Then comes the
packing and marketing which re.
quires no less skin and intelligence
than the curing and growing Of the
fruit. Dealers have leared that the
Eastern consumer does not want our
trash" on the other hand the de.
mand is constantly growing for fancy
packed fruit, all who have the per
manent good of the industry at heart
will be glad 10 see the time when
the old custom Of shovelling every
thing into bags and hurrying II on
east saturated with juices and dirt
Of all kinds is relegated TO the past
existing only in the memories Of the
infant industry
The Willamette Valley Prune Assn.
Of this city IS an apt illustration OF
what can be done in the line of intel
Ilgent cooperation by building mp a
demand for uniform high grade goods
The association was organized by
A few growers who realize the nee
essity Of better storage and packing
facilities than was within the reach
of any single orchardist, the associ'
alton was organized as an incorporat'
ad company with the above objects
In view and a brand was at once ad'
,pted and patented, the most ap'
,royed machinery was installed ana
work was commenced during the
.eason of 1900 but only in a limited
yay because Of the lack Of confidence
n the movement, however, the results
+ the first season were suiticiently
10 attract many others
pto IFS membership ranks, It's sec
md year was much more encouraging
han tbe first and stockholders we're
nrtber encouraged by receiving d
iberal dividend IN addition TO very
ouch better price for their fruit than
vas obtained under the old method
This organization has grown III 'he
.ntire stock has been taken ana iSI
. mar value. and there is now an
,raent demand for expansion IN some
.anror 40 that still other growers
nav become members. This associa
,on has handled about 4OOO'oOO
.ounds OF the crop Of the present
eason amounting to about lSO car
oads the large plant has been run.
ing steadily since the opening oi
No season much Of the time II haS
nm day and night, they have distrio-
ted a lot Of money IN wages. 'nelr .
'ontblv payrolI during the packing
eason being about $500 TO eiooS S
Ths spisbed product Of the orchard.
this community handled
,,ro,gb this association will reaeh
~ magnificent sum Of about 'iz''