The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-11-28
AMERICAN fruits
CAPTURE Chinese

Washington, Nov. 26. Fruit grow
ers of Oregon and otner Pacific coast
states will be interested in the report
of Vice Consul Ernest Vollmer, who,
writing from Isingtau, says that it
would be hard to find an American
export which has better chance Of
developing large sales in China than
American fruit. He gives the follow
ing market particulars:
Last year an American cargo OF
lumber came to Tsingtau from some
Pacific coast port. Some Of the oiti-
GERS brought along lot of California
navel oranges, which we're sold out
quickly, and which met with such ia
vor that the ship was overrun with
people trying to buy more after the
under stand no American oranges have
been on the local market. Lemons
soil here for five cents gold each,
which would seem to be high enough
price when compared with Pacific
coast values to warrant an investiga-
tion as TO the possibilities of supply
ing the Chinese market. The Ameri
can oranges are far superior to the
small, seedy, tight skinned Asiatic
ones, and would surely be received
with favor. IL 1t we're possible tor
large quantities Of this fruit to be
shipped to Australia when the line
from San Francisco was running there
seems tn he no obstacle to prevent
their shipment to China.
American apples, especially those OF
Oregon, are also favorably known
here. Some dealers In Shanghai make
a regular business OF importing them,
and Tsingtau firm has n standing
order with the Shangai house. The
apples are by far the best that come
to this part OF the country; they sell
we'll, and their keeping qualities leave
nothing to be desired. Aside from
oranges, lemons and apples, ii il
hardly probable that any other fruit
could be sent across thu Pacific and
lind ready market, but If exporters
would make connections with Shang.
hal jobbers or commission men 1t Ii
absolutely certain that large and
growing trade could be worked up.
All of the American timed fruits
are to be found here and command q
ready sale. The two largest hotels IL
Tsingtau each have course of Cali
fornia fruit each noon and evening
which is undoubtedly the most popu
lar number on the bill OF fare. Peach
os, pears and fall apples grow we'll 10
cally and are shipped extensively t,
the other parts of China, but Their
are no canneries, and families do no
seem to preserve fruit to the exten
they do In America. The result |
that a great deal OF the American
goods aie used; everybody know
them and they are universally admit
ted TO be the best to be had Price
are somewhat lower than those II
America, where the cost of tlnnet
fruit has gone up great deal durinI
the last two years, seemingly withou
a corresponding Increase over here.
Though such a satisfactory state
ment can be made regarding ou
timed fruit, just the reverse has t.
be said of our jams, jellies and pre-
serves. 1t may be that no attempt ha
been made to sell the goods In an,
quantity over here the cost being per
haps too high, but they are certainl
not on the market. Practically every
body eats something of this sort TO
breakfast, and great quantities of cur
rant. blackberry, strawberry, orang
marmalade, and other preserves ar
thus consumed. One might suppos
that with the size this industry ha
reached in the United States it ,woult
be reasonable to expect at least som
american goods, but everything i
English goods. Ii we could succee,
in diverting this trade we would gail
u market with "a great buying capacit.
aud one which Is certainly worth cap
turing.
When it comes to dried fruits tn
AmerIoan market again makes bet
Tor showing, but one which could cas-
liy be Improved upon. Prunes, apri
cots, peaches, pears and other orchard
iluits are found, but they do not hole
lhe dominating position which theil
ulality should insure them. AIizoni
.ates are now known in many coun
/ ries aud compare we'll with any 9th
,Is. California figs have no equal fol
quality and have an enormous sale
rut those things cannot be purchased
cut here, despite the fact that people
are just as fond of them as are Other
cations. Our raisins should also com
mand a ready sale throughout the
q lent. Glazed fruit coming here
from Europe by steamer over the hot
southern route simply cannot arrive
in as good condition as could AmeIi.
can fruit coming through cooler wa.
ters. 1t must be remembered that
people out here spend their money
readily for such delicacies, as they
have little else to spend it ON. There
are no fine restaurants where they can
go for a change, so that IL they get to
liking anything they will buy it to a
greater extent than they would IL liv
ing in any other country. IL ourspack-