The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-02-28
ADVISES FOLLOWING
HOOD RIVER METHODS

A North Yakima man visits Houd
River and makes the following report
In the Fruit Grower:
"In the first place we think the
Hood River people have soil and
climate better adapted to the growth
of Yellcw Newtown apples than ours
at North Yakima. Colorado can beat
us on Jonathans; but we can beat
either of them on Spitzenbergs. The
principal difference in prices grows
out Of three things, viz: Advertising,
guarantee and organization.
''Hood River apples are, we believe,
the best advertised apples In the
world. Every box has a printed label
covering whole end OF the box with
beautiful picture OF .the fruit and
the printed language, Fancy Hood
River, Oregon, Apples, Grown and
Packed by Hood River Apple Grow
ers' Union, Hood River, Oregon. "On
the other end of the box Is stamped
the number of apples in the box, the
number of the packer and the num-
ber OF the grower. Around each and
every apple is paper on which is
printed the following: Apple Grow
ers' Union, Hood River, Oregon. Ev-
cry hotel and restaurant has apples
on the table in order that the visitors
might see, taste and determine their
quality. They compete tor prizes at
all their fairs and exhibitions and
permit nothing to be shipped out that
will damage their reputation.
''Guarantee-Ihey guarantee every
box to be what 1t Is represented to
be, and have printed instructions
with every box, that If the consumer
does not find it as recommended the
union will make good, upon oondi-
tions that the consumer write ststing
the facts, with the number Of the
packer and the number of the grower,
both numbers of which are on one end
of the box. The complaint 10 sup
posed to dictate whether the packer
or grower was to blame and the rule
Is that the one on whom the blame
rests has to make good. The Fruit
Growers union furnishes all the pack
ers for all the fruit they handle, and
they follow certain rules which make
the union safe in its guarantees.
Wholesale and retail buyers OF all the
large cities know of these guarantees
from the union and have no hesitancy
In guaranteeing in tuIn to their .c,,s-
toners. Consumers have, many OF
them, come to know the methods OF
the Hood River union and the wealthy
especially, prefer to pay the highest
price for guarantee of the best arti.
Gle.
In many of the social functions Of
different cities 1t has become fash
ionable, where apples are used, to
ornament the table with fancy Hood
River apples, not because they are
necessarily better than any other but
because they are reputed to be the
best and guaranteed to be as recon-
mended.
"Organization The union is splend.
idly organized and it's rules are by Its
members strictly enforced and obey
cd. Every member of the union Ii
required to ,fill out a blank stating
the probable number of boxes OF every
grade and variety he can supply and
the secretary Of the union then visits
the orchards to see how nearly these
estimates may be correct. A contract
is then drawn up and the members
sign it agreeing to furnish the union
with their product. Having secured
these contracts the secretary then be.
gins by letters and kilograms to gel
bids from wholesale dealers on the
basis of the number of cars CT the
different grades and vaIieties he can
deliver. From these dealers flnal
day is fixed at the bank In Hood Riv.
or and the highest bidder gets the
fruit.
"How They Keep the Buyer Hon.
est-The wholesale buyer Is required
to deposit in the Hood River bank q
draft for the money, % be paid by
the bank when the apples arrive al
the point of destination in good con
dition. But in case he claims they
are not in good condition, as buyers
sometimes do in order to get a rebate,
then the fruit is sold to another deal.
er, even though it is sold a. less THAI
the first dealer will pay. The idea ID
that if dealer knows he will not get
the fruit If he enters complaint, he ID
not likely to enter it at all, for the
union knows it was shipped in good
condition and knows how 1t Is likely
to arrive.
"They confess that our country Ii
as good as theirs and much larger In
area. We must advertise, guarantees
nd organize more perfectly. We must
guarantee our stock to our union and
they in turn give US reasonable as
suranoe that in so doing We will re.
eeiye better prices than by the old
skin and dicker methods. They
must do the packing for all their Gus.
toners in order to be able to guaran.
tee the pack to the buyers. But this
guarantee is worth thousands Of dol
lars to this valley every year and teni
of thousands in the value, OF ouI
lands. T" ~