The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-06-27
3tood River Glacier
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1902.
The Strawberry Crop.

The strawberry season for 1902 is
drawing to close. Shipments In car
load lots have about ceased, but berries
will continue to come in from the
mountain patches for two weeks or
more. The total number of crates
shipped up to and including Wedues-
day night is 1893 equal 10 about So
cars of fruit. and netting the growers
SI25, 600. The total number of refriger-
at0r cars sent out Is 63.
Tbis was the banner season for the
Hood River strawberry growers, the to-
tai number of fcrates marketed Delug l5,-
OeO or O,000 over the number shipped
last wear. The season was perhaps III
days late, but this kept the Hood River
berries out ofcompetition with the Mis-
souri, and California crops and enabled
the growers to realize "a better price.
Last wear the Hood River Fruit Grow
ers' Union netted its patrons $2.l3 per
crate, and the union expects to do al
most as we'll this year. There was a
good yield this year, and with favor
able weather for ripening, a full crop
was produced.
The berries were generally of ali ex-
cellent quality, but the local shipping
agencies had some trouble this season
to keep inferior fruit from going on the
market. Some Of the new growers, not
yet converted TO Hood Rivers ethical
code Of marketing only first-class thor
oughly packed fruit, attempted to ship
inferior berries, but the Davidson Fruit
Company and the Fruit Growers I'm
ion enforced strict vigilance, and by
system of inspection endeavored tC
send out nothing other than filst
class product.
Much of this work ofinspection was
made necessary by the poor work o.
the pickers. 1t was at times impossi
BILE for many of the growers to secure
enough piekers, and without clear
picking each day, the patches are
bound to deteri0rate. Careful work or
the part of the pickers was thus neces
sary, but good pickers were hard to get
and many of the farmers lost heavily
on this account Some of the grower
have their berries picked and packet
in the patches, and pay two cents a boz
for the work, while others pay one ant
half cents for picking only, and hav
the fruit sorted and packed IN pack
ing house. The latter method is tn
more expensive, but is considered b,
MANY to be more satisfactory The pick
ing this year was done chiefly by whit
labor, but the work is not the easiest, AN
the growers experience much difficult
in getting pickers to stay the season oui
About the time they learn the bus
ness the pickers think they have ha
enough and quit, and another lot
pickers must be hunted up.
The total area in strawberries !
Hood River valley is estimated to b
about $50 acres. More land is bein
prepared this summer, and by mex
season the strawberry acreage wi
probably reach 800 or 700 acres. III
patches are generally small, runnin
five to seven acres in size. The But
farm Of 80 acres is the largest berr
ranch in the valley, and this year pr,
duced $500 crates of berries. The Dr.
Miller tract Of 10 acres turned off ov'
1000 crates. The smaller patches brin
in the larger returns per acre and pr
duce the best berries This Is becau'
the work of cultivation is usually mo-
thorough, and the supervision OF pic
ing and packing is more easily done.
The principal markets for Hood Ri
er Strawberries are the Montana town
the Dakotas, Minnesota and Manitob
willie many berries are sold in Omah
Denver, Salt Lake and Seattle. Son
few are sold in Portland, and this ye'
shipments were made to Dawson Cit,
Twenty crates were placed on boaI
an ocean steamer bound for Hong Kon
but their condition on arrival has II
vet been learned.