Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-26
LOS ANGELES NEEDS
A FRUIT MARKET
POOR FRUIT SOLD AT OUT.
hAeEoUS PRICES
Eastern Visitors Comment Adversely
on Conditions Here Which Pre-
vent the Sale of Good Fruit at
Reasonable Rates
Los Angeles. Aug. 2b.

LOS AnBeleS, Aug. 20.
[Editor Herald.1-I have been much
interested in your articles concerning
the fruit question. The exorbitant
prices charged for fruit in Los Angeles
by retail dealers is working great evil
in many ways. Aside from the water
question, there is no subject of such
vital Importance to Los Angeles as
the fruit question. The future great
ness of Los Angeles must necessarily
depend upon its advantage to attract
eastern people who wish to retire from
business. 1t is conceded by all that
we have one of the finest climates on
earth, but people cannot exist on cli-
mate alone. In the east, California
has an enviable reputation for pro-
ducing delicious fruit in abundance,
and many people are attracted here
as much on account of the fruit as
the climate, and is it any wonder they
are disgusted with inferior fruit at
exorbitant prices?
Scores of families which come to
Southern California return in disgust
dition of the fruit market. Since read
ing your quotations in the Sunday
paper, the writer has made careful
investigation concerning the retail and
wholesale prices, and is satisfied that
you have not exaggerated in either
case. In fact, if the fruit is purchased
direct from the producer, it can be
obtained for much less than the whole
sale price that you have given.
Fruit Market Needed
If Los Angeles expects to rank with
the genuine up-to-date cities, it should
have a respectable market, where peo-
pie can go and buy their fruit and
vegetables in good, fresh and healthy
condition direct from the producer.
There Is not an eastern city in the
United States, one half the size Of
Los Angeles, but has a market CEN
trally located A good market in Los
Angeles would reduce living expenses
at least 25 per cent I learn that all
previous attempts to establish mar
ket have been strongly fought by fruit
dealers, and as there are about 200
fruit dealers in Los Angeles, aside from
the hundreds Of grocers it will prob
ably be some time before anything
will be accomplished toward establish
ing desirable market.
If the retail dealers and peddlers In
sist upon making people pay so per
cent more than they should for fruit
and vegetables, then it would be II
very easy matter to form a consumers
association. BY doing this, every man.
woman and child in Los Angeles could
get so per cent more fruit or vege-
tables for their money than they are
getting today This would add much
to attracting permanent settlers.
Interest of Producer
If fruit could be obtained at rea-
sonable price, at least so per cent
more would be consumed, and that
would certainly be to the advantage
of the producer, because in a few years
the producer will be obliged to depend
more upon the home market, as It
will be very hard, If not impossible,
for him to compete with Cuba in the
eastern markets.
1t would be we'll for fruit producers
to read the article by Frank Carpen-
ter in the magazine of last Sundays
Times owing to the wonderful pro-
ductive soil in Cuba, and the minimum
cost of freight from that point to New
York and New Orleans, and the hum
dreds of thousands of acres of fruit
which is being put out by scores of
corporations, each representing mil
lions, it will be almost impossible for
California to stand such competition.
While the writer is not an alarmist.
he believes that these stubborn facts
should be presented to the people in
a manner that will enable them to
pursue the proper course for the con-
tinuance of the prosperity Of Southern
California. Very truly yours,
/. G. FAX.