The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-16
the FARM AN0 RANGE
Fruit Growers Association,


Much work was done at the meeting
OF the United Fruit Growers Associa-
tion of Colorado. which closed its
session at Denver. March Sth.
Three important steps were taken
by the association on the last day of
the convention. The first was a
change In the constitution enlarging
the executive cOmmitte: the second
was the election Of officers. and the
third was the laying on the table, al
though appointing Il committee to re-
port upon the measure next year, of
the plan TO incorporate.
In order to advance the interest of
the fruit growers of the state II was
thought that larger representation in
the state could be secured, and the
good OF the fruit growers furthered by
increasing the executive committee
from three to five members. The fol-
lowing additional members were added
to the committee: J. S. McClelland,
of Fort Collins, and T. Lytle, of Man
Zanola. This. 1t is thought, will give
the entire state perfect representation
among the directors of the policy Of
the organization.
The following officers were elected
to serve for the coming year: F. d.
kiefer, Fruita. president; J. H. Crow
ley, Rocky Ford, vice-president; Olof
Olson. Denver, secretary: II. X. Fer
Suson, Eckert. treasurer.
A committee was appointed to take
up with the Denver & Rio Grande
railroad the matter of broadening its
tracks from Delta to Paonia. 1t is
thought that the railroad will act fav-
orably on the matter. as there is a
great deal of fruit shipped over this
line, even with the present service.
Final action was taken in regard to
the attempt which the association is
making to secure better rates on their
box materials. 1t was largely for this
reason that the various associations in
the state banded together and formed
the state association, and this one
thing alone was one of the most inn
portant affairs to come before the
present convention. committee was
appointed which will be permanent
and will have charge of the securing
of good prices for the entire associa-
tion. 1t Is too late to get to worh on
prices for this season, as almost all of
the growers in the state have already
placed their box orders. but the COM
mittee will get down to business at
once on the rates for the coming sea
son. 1t is an assured fact, say the
growers, that they will in the future be
able to have much better prices than
they have ever had before,
On the last day three new associa.
tions were admitted into the state as
sociation. All of these were let In
upon their own request, making but
one association in the state which Is
outside Of the fold There are now
about twenty associations represented.
Although there are numerous other
organizations in the state which go
under the name of fruit growers as
sociations, yet 1t Is claimed that this
list practically composes all of the real
fruit growers associations in Colorado.
Besides these associations, there are in
the state organization representatives
from almost all of the fruit growing
districts Of the state, whether they
have associations or not.
Denver was selected by the fruit
men as their next convention place,
but the date of the convention was
changed to the third Monday in Janu-
ary, so that 1t would come during
Farmers week"
Discussion of the outlook for the
fruit crop in this state during the
coming season at yesterdays meeting
of the convention brought forth the
remarkable statement that although
S7,000,000 worth of fruit had been sold
in the state last year, yet everything
Tended to show that that amount would
be easily doubled during the coming
season 1t is said by the fruit grow
rrs that never in the history of the
industry in this state has the outlook
been so promising as ii is this year.
New orchards, new lands and first
class weather conditions have much
o do with this prediction.
1t is also claimed that two fruit
;rowing sections of the country which
we're invaded by Colorado fruit last
year, Missouri and the coast, will
double their orders this coming sea
son. Last year Colorado fruit was
drawing three times the price in Los
Angeles that coast grown fruit was
bringing They could not get enough
)f it and the same conditions are fast
coming into effect in Missouri The
reason for this is that the Colorado
'ruit has the quality. the color and the
keeping qualities which go to- make
il In great demand.