The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
The YEAR
IN PRODUCE.
III VI S
Good Business y Methods Made liLdtlt
It an Exceptionally Pros
porous One.
SOURCE OF SUPPLY EXTENDED
SOURCE OF SUPPLY EXTENDED
Large Portions Of the Country
Contribute to the Comfort Of
Richmond-Future Bright.

Ir response to your request for state
ment of lie condition OF the p. o1!ce
market for the past year tlHs5). we take
pleasure In saying that from our own
experience. as well as reports from others
connected with the produce and fruit
business, that the year just past has been
an exceptionally prosperous one. not
only to the commission merchants, but
also to their ratrons. the shippers.
During the past year Richmond. as q
steady and reiable fruit and produce
ma rket, has advanced to the 'front.' rank
among the markets OF the country. and
grown steadily in favor with tho ship
pers Of produce, not only from our own
State, but has been given the preference
by shippers from other States. who here
tofore never used our market
During the year Richmond has not only
drawn shipments Of fruit and produce
from every Southern State. from Florida
to Maryland, as well as New York and
other Northern States, but even the
great West has contributed largely to our
general prosperity by giving US shipments
OF choice butter and other produce from
Chicago and other sections In the West
a condition which has been heretofore
almost unknown.
.ss BUSINESS PRINCIPLES.
With the above very satisfactory condi-
lions existing for the past years bust
ness. the question naturally arises, What
has caused the Increased confidence In
Richmond as a steady and reliable mar
ket for the sale of produce?
The question finds Its answer IN the
simple statement that order has been
brought out of chaos-busness principles
applied to business propositions-by thu
organization OF nearly all Of the commits
sioE men into, an association. known as
the Richmond Fruit and Produce Assocla-
ton. the object of which Is to engender
feeling Of fraternity among its men,
bers, with view to advancing the ma to-
ria! interest of both merchant and ship
per; to furnish the shipper as near as
possible with perfectly fair and reliable
market quotations. In order that he may
not be misled and made to suffer a loss;
to throw around every business transact
tion the principles of Justice, honesty and
the spirit Of live and let live; and last,
but not least. to DO away with the rerni-
cious. unbusinesslilse methods (heretofore
existlng) Of selling or rather giving away
our shippers goods at auction. allowing
thr. huy,r to set the price upon the goods
Of the shir-r~ Instead Of that being done
BY the merchant, to whose care and
trusted,
No member Of the Richmond Fruit and
Produce Association wIl;nllow any goods
consigned to him to DO sold at auction,
anu to tho abandonment Of this unbus-
nesslike method. as we'll as the appllca-
tlor of the other principles OF our Assoc
citation, can be traced the past years
Increased receipts OF produce, and the
placing OF Richmond as n reliable nro-
tlucn market upon a much higher business
plane than 1t has heretofore occupied. "a
WjthEthe above existing conditions the
members Of the Richmond Fruit and Pro-
ducs Association look hack upon tho
years work with pride, and with bright
hopes and renewed energy they are ready
to 20 into the work Of the new year, de-
jterrnined to bend every energy, guided
by true business principles, to i'ft their
believed city *, q still higher business
plane among the cities OF our ma ton as q
first.class fruit and proauce markets
Respectful Ivy lSa... Is (, !. ri,