Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-01
BRAND STATEMENTS
AS FALSE
Cranberry Growers Resent the
Insinuation of Trust by
an Appleton Reporter.

whoever wrote the article in this
paper was evidently ignorant of the
growth. nature. or marketing of cram
berries. There are so many false
statements that it is annoying TO any
reader at all familiar with cram
berries.
This was the first remark of a well
known cranberry grower when shown
the article Published in the Appleton
Post recently about the condition of
the cranberry market, and the prob
ability of the influence of a trust in
| fixing the price of these berries.
Contrary to the statement of the
writer in the above mentioned article,
there never was time when cram
berries Of any of the standard grades
ever sold for $3.50 per barrel. The
price has usually ranged between Sc
and 81 for standard grades, and few
fancy grades have ranged between $8
and $40 per barrel.
An unfortunate condition of affairs
in the cranberry industry existed last
year. The crop was short one, and
| at the beginning of the season the
growers quot ! so low a price that
/ there was a waSteful consumption
around the holiday season, and con-
sequently in January, February, and
| March, those persons who would have
| the fruit. were compelled to pay as
! high as $40 per barrel. Had the price
at the beginning of the season been
J placed a trifie higher, there would
/ have been more even and gradual
distribution, and in consequence, the
/ eXtOrLiOnate prices that were made in
/ the latter months would not have
| been possible.
| This year the price is about the
same as was quoted last year on all
standard grades Of this fruit at this
time-at S6,35 to Sand not as stated
| by the article in the Appleton Post at
! from 81. so TO 81. In view of the fact
that the crop is almost double in the
state Of Wisconsin; trifle more on
Cape Cod; and about the same in New
jersey: this may at first glance appear
to be an increase in the price, but the
fact is that the unpleasant experience
of last year will be avoided if pos
sible by the cranberry growers.
The ignorance the writer of that
Article shows regarding the cranberry
crop, says another prominent grower,
and a member of the Cranberry
Growers Sales Co, sis so apparent
that it is ridiculous. Wisconsin
growers recently formed Sales Co.
for the purpose OF placing themselves
in more direct communication with
the consumers. This is what has been
done bV the growers Of all other fruits
including oranges, bananas, etc, and
it is ridiculous to say that these
articles are controlled by a trust,
when the prices are lower now than
they ever have been in years past.
These sales companies facilitate and
regulate tine shipping, and in con-
sequence distribute the fruit az less
cost than is possible in any other way.
81 suppose that the organization of
the Cranberry Growers Sales Co.
has given rise to the speculation of
visionary reporters, and is the i'm
mediate causes of the cry of trusts.
This would be impossible, as the
thinking man will realize if he will
but remember that the Wisconsin
growers are only about One.Seventh of
the growers in this country. Then
too, cranberries must be disposed of
during the season, or consigned to the
dump and charged on the loss side of
the ledger. Trust, spells impossibility,
when applied to cranberries" !"