The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-14

| Complaint Is made In Astoria by
iconsumers OF the poor and inferior
quality OF fruit received here and the
high prices at which ii Is sold. As,o-
rians who visit Portland come back
with the statement that they can buy
fruit OF all kinds cheaper in Portland
than in Astoria and In many instances
this is true, but 1t is not the fault OF
the Astoria merchant as to the amount
OF profit they make. Merchants claim.
and II is probably true. that there is
very little profit in fruit, taking into
consideration the close margin at
which they are compelled to sell It..
and the amount that spoils on their
hands. 1t is well known fact that
during last winter and, this spring
1t was almost impossible to get a good
lapple in Astoria, while the fruit stands
and groceries of Portland were we'll
stocked with the choicest fruit raised.
The best apples could be bought just
as cheap in Portland as the inferior
grade In Astoria.
A prominent fruit grower of Hood
River was In the city this week. and
states that Portland buys large per
eentage OF the fruit raised in that
section, while large amount is ship
ped east and foreign. Hood River APP
pies have been purchased In London
nearly two years old. He states that
Astoria merchants make a mistake in
buying their fruit OF the Portland
commission houses. They receive the
choice grades of fruit. but the best
is sold to the retail trade and restau-
rants OF Portland and the inferior
grades are shipped to Astoria and
other outside cities and are charged
about 20 per cent more than is charged
the retailers OF Portland. This en-
ables the Portland retailers to sell
fruit at retail at the same price the
Astoria merchants pay at wholesale
which accounts for the people who
visit Portland claiming that fruit is
sold cheaper in Portland than In AS
toria and is Of better quality.
This being true, 1t would be policy
and the exercise of good business
judgment, for the Astoria merchants
to buy direct from the growers. Every
grocery store in Astoria is a substan-
tial concern and ought to be in a
position to buy fruit direct instead of
through the commission sharks OF
Portland who charge them 20 per cent
more for an inferior fruit than is be.
ing charged the home concerns for
choice fruit. A large number of AS
torians have no objection to paying a
good price for fruit, provided they get
the best, but they do object to paying
high prace for inferior fruit. If Il
was any other commodity, something
that would keep and could be brought
to Astoria conveniently. IL is safe to
say that Astoria merchants would sell
very little fruit. Arrangements can
be made just as well by the Astoria
merchants to purchase Mr.. Tabor or
Hood River strawberries as by Port
land commission merchants.
The same is true Of California fruit.
which comes in the market earlier
than the oregon fruit Local mer-
chants can buy direct from the grow
ers and secure the better grades at
the same price at least, as they pay
the commission merchants for the
culled fruit. It is a frequent remark
that California growers sell the best
fruit to the Gamers the second grade
to the retailers and what the hogs
won't eat they ship to the Portland
commission merchants, and judging by |
some Of the fruit seen in Astoria, there
must be something in the statement.
A representative Of the Astoria gro
GERS ought to go to eastern Oregon or
the willamette valley every fall and |
engage all the apples they will require
for the winter and spring trade. In |
this way they can secure the very best
grades and save the middleman's
profit In this way they can compete
with the Portland retailers 1t Is a
fact that the Portland retailers sell |
fruit to home consumers Just as cheap
and some times cheaper than the Front
street merchants wholesale 1t at. It
is a we'll known fact that last winter
not less than 200 boxes Of apples war
bought in Portland by Astoria fami-
lies, because they could not get good
quality in Astoria. There is no reason
why the best grades OF fruit should
not be shipped to Astoria and the mer-
chants of Astoria have It in their pow
er to do So and by go doing, there will
not be so much fruit spoil on their