The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-07-07
BUMPER APPLE
CROP EXPECTED

That the United States, Canada and
Europe will have large crops of apples,
provided no adverse conditions result
between now and the picking season,
is the opinion Of A. Hatfield, jr., men,
Der of the firm of Rae & Hatfield, fruit
and commission merchants of New
York City. Mr.. Hatfield was in Hood
River the latter part OF last week, look
ing over the situation from buyers
standpoint. From his conversation it
is to be inferred that change must
take place in the situation before he
will consent to return and make bid
on Hood River apples.
When Glacier reporter called upon
Mr.. Hatfield and asked II he had any
thing to say relative to apple crop con-
ditions and prospective prices, the New
York apple buyer smiled, and with
mixture Of humor and sarcasm replied:
"Well, | can't presume to say any
thing about Hood River apples. People
look at things different here; they have
come to regard theirapples as diamonds.
| don't think we buyers can touch
them"
Mr.. Hatfield is indeed most enter
tanning and intelligent talker. While
he makes no assertion that he is an
authority ON the apple situation, it is
not hard to see that he has made a
thorough study of the apple business
and has the situation well in hand. Mr..
Hatfield has done much travelling as a
fruit buyer, and in the course Of his
conversation II is readily seen that he
has acquired great deal of knowledge
of the countries through which he has
travelled.
Rae 4 Hatfield are the New York
firm who were not given an opportunity
to bid on the fruit of the Apple Grow
ers' union last winter, or rather the
representative who was to bid for the
apples laid down and let other parties
take them. This piece OF work did not
seem to worry Mr. Hatfield, who in fact
felt rather relieved. The people who
bought last years crop made their
profit. said Mr.. Hatfield, but not, big
profit, nothing more than what was
rightfully coming to them.
Big apple buyers lost money last year,
said Mr.. Hatfield. "Do you know what
your fancy Hood River Spitzenbergs
sold for in New York last winter" in.
quired the apple buyer.
Five cents apiece?" ventured the
newspaper man in reply.
mo, sir; you couldn't find any at
that price. 1t was ten cents and over.
And how many people do you suppose
can afford to pay such prices for apples?
''No, the number OF people who can
afford to buy fruit at fancy prices just
because it is high priced stuff, islimited,
When fairly good box of apples can
be bought for 81, not great many peo-
pie will pay the 81 for the other apples.
The cheaper fruit will move and the
other will have difficulty in finding sale
unless it is placed on the market at a
loss, 1t is an easy thing to pull down
the price of commodity Of this nature,
but hard bit Of work to advance the
price.
During the so-called prosperity
years, there was greater demand for
ultra fancy fruits, but with the tighten
ing of business in the East people have
begun to economize on their purchases
of fancy stuffs. There are always few
who can afford and demand the fancy
fruits, but the number is limited at the
best"
Mr. Hatfield went on to explain that
the apple crop in all parts of the United
States will be good this year, and a full
harvest is expected, provided nothing
unforeseen occurs between now and
time to gather the fruit Apple growers
in most Of the large producing districts
are taking this into account, says Mr..
Hatfield, and grower further up the
Columbia river, he says, was anxious
to sell his entire crop at 30 cents less
per box than he secured last year. Mr..
Hatfield said he was not buying apples
just yet and could not consider the offer.
If the crop in Europe turns out as
large as prospects indicate, there will be
little chance for American shippers to
enter the English and German markets.
Then with big crop for home consump-
tion, the growers must not expect the
excessively high prices of last season.
Mr.. Hatfield considers that Hood River
raises as good as any, il not the best
apples In the United States, but he
says the Medford growers were given
less for their apples last yest only be-
cause they sold before the apples here
did.
Mr.. Hatfield says the production Of
fruit has come to be in the nature of
circle. New York is of course the big
gest market, and such fruit as straw
berries and tomatoes are always to be
had in that city the wholeye through.
After the berry season is ended in the
Middle Atlantic states, Canada fur
nishes the fruit until late in the fall,
then Florida begins to send out all kinds
of fruit until 1t ripens again in the
northern states, and the course is again
completed.
Florida is great fruit section of the
United States. One man there in the
year Of the heavy freeze several years
ago, cleared $4,000 from one acre of
tomatoes. The weather bureau had
sent out notification of frost and this
man, watching the weather reports,
bought ton of hay at cost Of $50,
which he spread over an acre Of his
tomatoes. While the remainder of his
patch was killed along with those of his
neighbors, he still had enough left to
clear up $1,000.