Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-07-05
PROBLEM FOR FRUIT
Continued from page 1

President Briggs made a frank state.
ment of the conditions in which the
Association was placed by the care
lessness and dishonesty OF some OF the
members and he admonished the
members that they must raise the
stan dard of their pack or the reputa-
tion OF their fruit would be ruined
and profitable prices would be thing
Of the past. He stated that when IN
Portland last week he was shown at
wholesale houses handling Ashland
fruit cups of cherries that weighed
but 10 ounces and many that weighed
but IA TO 10 ounces and few that
weighed the full pound Strawber-
ries, loganberries and other berries
were in plenty that were both short
weight and that were faced with fine
berries on top and had fruit so in
ferior in the center and bottom as 20
be almost culls. He announced that
unless better pack was put up that
Manager johnson would be compelled
to have every box opened aud in
spected and then classed in the grade
it warranted and sold accordingly.
This would make an added expense to
the Association and loss to the care
less and dishonest growers. On invi-
tation of President Briggs Charles
Meserve attended the meeting and sd-
dressed the members on the successes
and failures of the Grants Pass Fruit
Gro wers Association in handling fruit
and also his observations on the
methods employed by the Hood River
and other progressive fruit growers
associations. BY way Of encouraging
the members Of the Ashland Associa-
tion Mr.. Meserve stated that every
other association had had to contend
against the dishonesty and careless
ness of the grow ers and also the
swindilng ON the part of many
dealers. 1t was the experience Of
every association on being organized
and handling fruit under easy going
rules that ..one-fourth of the mem
bers would put up an honest. perfect
pack. two-fourths would pack well
and honest if they knew how and
one fourth would take every advant-
age through dishonest methods. 1t as
thus necessary in getting a new
on successful working
basis with a good standing In the
that the honest one-fourth
educate the ignorant, careless two
fourths in how to grow, pick and
pack fruit 80 that the purchaser will
not be deceived and would get full
value for his money, and then on the
dishonest one.fourth enforce rigid
rules that will make them do their
part in enabling the association to
the confidence OF the buyers
and of the public and to put up
pack that would bring the highest
price in the best markets. Fruit
an association label has come
70 stand for the highest quality just
Is butter from the creamery in its
handsome label and oleanly appearance
'anks above the farm butter with its
intidy looks and uncertain quality.
Association packed fruit is always
vgen the reference by the big dealers
lnd by the best class of consumers for
hey ,expect that each box will be
Exactly full weight and that the mid
lie layer will b. as good AS the bot
ON layer and that the bottom layer
will equal the top layer in size and
appearance. To this class of buyers
quality is all and chelpuoss is moth.
ng. When they want handsome.
perfect, delicate favored and high
olored apple, pear, peach or grape to
,lace on their dinner or banquet table
hey hesitate not at the price 1t is
he box OF fruit that Is offered to
hem at four bits that they fear and
ecliue Short weight boxes oausea
oss TO the growers on freight ami
Npress charges for shipments are
eldom weighed in car loads the rule
4 the companies being to weigh a
ample lot Of the boxes and compute
he total weight from that Ard as 4
hey always select the heaviest boxes
heir total is always more than the
ctual weight of the consignment
he dishonest fruit shipper is also
able another loss and that is fne
or selling short weight packages for
nder the new Oregon food law this l
tfense is punishable by heavy fine
Mr.. Meserve advocated that-in ad.
ertising Rogue River fruits that it
9 not Ashland peaches, Medford pears
or Grants Pass apples, but that it all
e labeled and advertised as Rogue
liver fruit. The soil, climate and
ther conditions are exactly the same