The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-08-24
rpuIT MARKETING PROBLEMS.

10 strike the happy medium be-
tween over supply and under sup
NV seems to be a difficult task for
Oregon fruitgrowers. AT the re-
cent midsummer meeting Of the
Oregon Horticultural Society at
Salem several speakers declared
that one great difficulty in market
ing fresh fruit is that the quantity
PRODUCED is not sufficient to permit
shipment in carload lots, nor enough
for packers to give particular atten
tiou to it. TIE loss on this account
is seen in two ways. In the first
place the relative cost of shipping
in small quantitiec is much larger
than in large quantities. and the
cost must come out of the producers
profits unless the consumer can be
made to stand it, which he will not
do if he can buy other fruits at
better figure.
Again, the loss On account of
haphazard methods Of picking.
packing and shipping is consider
able. With only a little fruit to be
handled, no one makes a speciality
Of packing it, and no systematic ef-
forts are made to secure the highest
standard Of excellence. A few
commission merchants may do
some packing as side issue, but
they do not give it that thorough
attention it requires. If farmer
brings in cherries that have been
roughly handled in picking, many
Of the stems locsened in the fruit,
cherries hauled 10 town in large
boxes over rough roads in farm
wagons that jolt them around un-
til they are covered with bruises
If fruit comes in this way the pack
er must take it. If there were
large crop and he made q business
Of packing, he could and would re-
quire that the fruit be brought to
him in f,st-class condition.. Then,
too. if he made a business of pack
Ing he would put forth greater ef
forts to find new and larger markets
would pack his fruit in the best
possible manner, ship it in refrig-
eretor cars, ard get it into the
hands Of the consumer in the most
tempting condition. Because the
crop is small this cannot be done,
and the fruit goes upon the mar ket
largely as chance may determine.
Viewing the subject in this light
1t is evident that the great trouble
with the cherry industry, the berry
industry and the grape industry is
that we do not grow these fruits in
suthcient Quantities to permit ship
ments in carload lots. But what if
thedesired condition were brought
about? If the farmers of the SALEM
district and of every other district
should grow cherries, berries, grape
ana other fruits iu large quantities,
would there not soon be an over
production and an inability to find
market Notwithstanding the ex-
cellent condition in which the fruit
came to the show windows Of the
retail dealer? A glut in the mark t
means a reduced price, and that
without delay. How much better
on would the grower be, then, If
ne relieved himself of the disad-
vantage of shipping in small guam
a'ies' only to find that he had as
'umed the disadvantages Of ship
ping in large quantities? That
small shipments mean an increased
cost OF transportation is beyond
= question. But can the farmers
'eel any assurance that if they
plant trees in sufficient Quantities
permit Shipment ir carloads lots
.ney will not have their fruit re
used entirely or purchased only at
.mall prices. upon the ground that
Tue market is oversuppl,ed?
-Oregoniau.