The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
FRUIT EXCHANGE
TO help GROWER
Proper Packing and Marketing OF
Fruit Almost as Important
as Raising 1t.
EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PLACES
Results in Greater Demand and
Better rices-Growing I'm
portance of Industry.
EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PLACES
Office of the
State Crop Pest Commission.
IIu q ks hiirtr -Nn IrnL IN Inn


On December 9Th. at Stanton, Va,
the Initial steps were taken for organ
tEing the Piedmont Fruit Exchange. the
object being to bring together the fruit
growers of certain sections of the State
IN one organization, for the proper
packing and marketing of fruit and
ether mutual interests
IT Is well understood that tho mar
keting of fruit Is an entirely different
business from growing the product.
some men may succeed best in grow
ing the fruit, while others would sue
ceed best In marketing 1t. While the
marketing OF fruit Is not, 1 think
more complex than producing 1t, the
FORMER requires an Organization to
get the best results. Some OF the
benefits that might be expected to
eccrue to the fruit growing interests
Through such organizations are brought
out by the following extracts taken
from an article in the Daily Sentinel.
published at Grand Junction. Colorado.
1T relates to the Grand Junction Fruit
Growers Association.
IF each Grand Valley fruit grower
were shipping out his fruit indepcn-
IDENTITY OF every other grower making
HIS own prices and dealing with his
own market, how long would Grand
valley fruit be commanding high and
oOpu pIlCtS.
Not very long. For then each of the
700 growers would be competing with
the others, prices would be slashed
and pretty soon there would be no
prices at all. Hence, the undisputed
advantages of the Fruit Growers Az
location, formed along such lines as
the Grand Junction Fruit Growers.
association.
Lack OF organization and poor man
isement have been the ruin of many
4 fruit growing district of this country.
inc member OF the Grand Junction
Fruit Growers Association does not
have to worry about his prices. He
raises his fruits and delivers them to
The association, knowing that COM
potent men are In charge OF every
department and knowing that he will
get the best possible prices. In good
time his returns come in, and nine
times out of ten these returns are
eminently satisfactory to the grower.
Again, through the association the
grower can purchase his needed sup
pies, such as boxes. wrappers, spray
materials, wagons. etc, at practically
Wholesale prices. such goods being
bought by the carload by the associa-
lion.
The Grand, Junction Fruit Growers
Association, above all other things. is
noted for good fruit and honest pack
ing. 1t has always been its policy
10 ship out no rank, inferior fruit,
ana II VIII not accept such for ship
ment. 1t gives its members the ad-
vantage OF the knowledge and guild
ance of experts as to how to produce
the very best fruit, how to care for
inc orchards and make them yield
the greatest amount of good fruit.
Unless the fruit in every
box measures up to the standard of
quality. 1t Is rejected by the inspec-
tor.
THE association demands that the
grading be good. the packing sys-
tematic and honest and every effort
Is made to develop the very best color
and flavor, etc. etc.
TO this organization Grand Junction,
the Grand Valley and one of the most
Important industries of the vast West
owe mighty measure of their de-
Nelopment. fame and prosperity. j.
The Grand Junction Fruit Growers
Association has shipped the greater
portion of the fruit raised in Mesa
country every year since fruit raising 10
any extent whatever began in this
locality. Something like twelve years
ago the association was organized on
very small basis, and for two years
1t made very little showing. In the
year 1897 the association wac rsor-
ganized. How wonderful
has been the growth of the organiza-
tion during these eleven years! The
first year of the reorganized associa-
ton there were shipped out OF the
valley lo7 cars of fruit by the assoc
ciation, and for these 1877 cars tho
growers were paid s54,50O The crop
mat year was considered phenomenal
IN 1906. ten years later, the assoc
citation shipped out OF the valley I52
:ars of fruit, and total of S555Sl3
was paid to the growers. or over half
a million dollars more than was paid
out for fruit in 1897, and when all the
returns are in for 1907 it Will be seen
that the growers will have been paid
at least $4,000 more money in 1907
than they were paid in 1897. Nearly
1000 moro cars of fruit were shipped
out of this little valley in 1906 than
were shipped in 1897, just ten short
years before. What mighty growth
in eleven years time"
The Eastern Shore (Va.) Produce
Exchange. operated in Accomac and
NORTHAMPTON counties, in this State,
shows similar development and sue
cess. but was organized a few years
later. Prior to It's organization. sweet
potatoes often sold for less than the
taiiWay SoHiPaHieS charged for freight
and the growers We're actually request
ed to pay the difference. Though tho
company has now been in operation for
about eight years. there has been an
ictive demand for their products dur
Ing the entire time, Notwithstanding.
The fact that the better prices caused
thrce to four times as much STUFF to
be grown. The sales of this company
now reach about 100000 per year from
the two small counties mentioned.
There are two other similar organlza-
lions in the same section.
Tho development OF the fruit in
austry in this State during the past
twenty years has indeed been phe-
nomenal. and shows conclusively that
our soil and climatic conditions are