Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-12
FRUIT BUSINESS
REVOlU1IONlZfD.
Growers Quietly Perfect High Or
ganiZation Abreast Of the
Times.

ECONOMY AND SYSTEM IN GROWING,
| PICKING, PACKING, DISTRIBUTING
AND SELLING TO GOVERN PRODUCTS
| IN FUTURE
The executive committee of that new
organization the Virginia Fruit Grow
ers' and Packers Association, has
issued the following statement of its
reasons for existence and what it hopes
to accomplish:
"Persons interested in the greater de-
velopment of Virginia horticulture
will, no doubt, welcome, as whole,
the cooperative methods in this work
that are now coming to the front with
such rapid strides.
The organization of the Eastern
Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange
about ten years ago was the first great
step. When that company was in
augurated, the growers of truck crops
in Accomac and Northampton counties,
two of the leading counties in this
business, had witnessed many seasons
of depression. Often the products
would not bring enough to pay freight,
and the growers came generally to rec
ognize that they must either abandon
their business or find some other meth
odof disposing of their produce. This
organization of truck growers entered
upon the work of standardizing and
selling their products with such energy
that it was a success from the very
start, Steps were taken to insure uni
form grading, packing, marking, and
the entire output was placed under the
control Of its selling agents. These
agents acted as unit, and, in practi-
caliy all cases, good prices were obtain
ed.
s'They have brought the trucking
business from wasteful disorder to a
condition of unprecedented prosperity,
which reaches not only to the truck
growers themselves but to every busi-
ness in these two countries; and the
consumers, as a whole, do not pay
more for the products than they did
formerly. the results having been ac-
complished mainly by better packing,
distribution and selling.
''These methods have been put in
force with phenomenal success by the
Canadian fruit prowerS and hy tho fr,,;t
growers in number of the Western
States.
''At an enthusiastic meeting in Char
lottesville April Is of the stockholders
of the original Piedmont Fruit EX-
change the name of the organization
was changed to the Virginia Fruit
Growers and! Packers Association,
incorporated, and the scope broadened
as suggested by the change in name.
"Last week the stockholders residing
near Strasburg and representing 20 per
cent. of the capital stock of the main
organization organized what is to be
known, temporarily, at least, as the
Strasburg division of this association,
and laid plans for handling the fruit
crop that is now in sight
"The organizers of the Strasburg di-
vision believe that the Virginia Fruit
Growers and Packers Association will
give them every opportunity for the de-
velopment of individuality. This, in
our opinion, is necessary, if we are to
bring any large number of fruit growers
together. No doubt encouragement
will be given for development of special
trademark brands in each locality and
even by individual growers, where
sufficient quantity of fruit is grown to
allow of its being handled in this way.
"Following out this line of develop
ment, and believing that little can be
accomplished without uniform sys-
tenn of packing of the very best type,
the Strasburg division has engaged an
expert to take some men to Georgia for
the packing season this summer and
n clip them to master the methods of
packing peaches, which they will put
into force here, with such notifications
as conditions demand.
GA few of the main advantages to be
gained by cooperation are given be-
low:
81. Uniform grading, packing and
marking.
'2. Large quantities of fruit, of uni
form grade, can be sold by sellers who
act as IA unit and in the interest of the
grower.
49, A reputation can be established
on permanent brands for which trade
marks should be procured.
"4. The cost of picking, packing and
M lrketing can be greatly reduced, and
the fruit handled at the proper time
for best results.
"5. Storing facilities can be better
provided where fruit does not bring
sufficient price right from the orchard.
"6. Selling direct to the city by
sample, and at the point of production,
Will be encouraged.
81. Economy in purchase or manu-
facture of packages in large quantities.
eve hope the growers will at once
get in touch with this organization and
help lay the plans for handling the
crop of fruit for the coming season.
The combined energy and wisdom of
our best growers will not be too much
t. throw into this organization. 1t
should, however, repay many times
the outlay.
"With the experience of other sec
tions to guide us, let us perfect our Or
ganization before we are driven to do
so by low prices, which will inevitably
come when the young orchards now
being planted come into bearing"