The San Francisco call., 1910-12-08
fruit GROWERS
need Low RATES
Delegates to Convention Discuss
Problem of Distribution
and Competition
Tseecial Dispatch 10 The Call

STOCKTON, Dec. Preliminary
TO what is generally. conceded the most
important subject that viii come before
the convention Of the California state
fruit growers-that Of Standardization
Of pack-the delegates this afternoon
took up the viticultural industry. The
church in which the convention is be-
ing held was crowded today. it having
been Necessary 70 thro wopen the gal
lery for visitors.
The delegates were guests at a re-
ception given by the chamber Of COM
merce at Masonic hall tonight. An
address was delivered by District At
torney George F McNoble and after
musical program dancing was in order
until midnight. c. ". Norton. one of
the stockton fruit growers. has been
prominent in the arrangements of the
convention.
DISTRIBUTION DISCUSSED
At the. morning session F. B. Nc
Kevftt Of Sacramento read a report on
the work OF the California fruit dis
tributors. He began by stating that
California is not the only state with
great horticultural interests, naming
Texas, Georgia. the two Eirginias,
Delaware. Maryland. New Jersey, New
York. Ohio Michigan Mississippi Arksn-
sas. Colorado Idaho. Utah, Washing
ton and Oregon. He said that there
never would be anything in the nature
Of a trust in the business. as the fruit
was mostly sold at auction.
He said that the last ason opened
with unusually heavy competition,
other states having made shipments as
follows: Texas, 4.209 carloads of
peaches: Georgia. G-1O0: Delaware,
Maryland and New Jersey, 5000; New
York, 1900: Ohio. 1000; Connecticut,
500. Arkansas and Missouri. 1000; Cali
fornia and Utah, 1000; Washington,
1000. The California fruit crops were
reported heavy, save grapes. which fell
1000 carloads below last years ship
ment
COMPARISON OF CROPS
The report contained some valua-
hle data on the fruit handled by the
distributors, as follows:
Cheries-Flrst carload shipped from vacsyille
April -. The first shipment Of l6 carloads
brought S65,35O gross or $4,000 car. Total.
250L car.
Aprieots- There were 2sssi cars. as compared
with 2091k for 1909
Piums-5iood crop. 1552l. ears. rs compared
with I.526lt in 1909 Plum production probably
win double within the next I've years.
Pear erop-Gopd but not heavy; 1851. as
compared with 2.e3S carloads last year Prices
not SO high Winter pear crop light. but de-
mand heavy and prices good.
Pesches-United States produced largest crop
in its history. California shipped 2,5lS car
loads. compared with 2.599 last year.
TROUBLE WITH RETAILERS
Regarding the retailer. Kevitt said:
We believe the retailer is the
man who is killing our business by
preventing the extensive demand
that low prices would bring. and
unless we can find some means Of
reaching the consumer and dealing
with him direct there seems to be
little hope for change. For this
reason. If no other the fruit grow
ers and dealers of California. should
do everything in their power to
secure the parcels post, which
would enable them 10 come into di-
rect personal relations with con-
sumers all over the country, sup
plving small packages of assorted
fruits a their homes for a reason
able price and introducing our
products into thousands Of families
where it has as yet never been
used.
PROFITS FROM GRAPES
Grape shipments. he said. promised
early 10 be about the same a 8 last year.
Many Young vineyards came into bear
ing. but the shipments of $3.50 cars in
1909 was reduced to 1876. This was
due to losses in Fresno county by
reason Of mildew. Thompson seedless
and Malaag We're strong and Tokays
sold better than usual; Emperors sold
well
The total shipments of deciduous
fruits for the season, exclusive of
apples were 1888 cars. at an average
OF $3.50 a car. McKevitt deducted ex-
penses and estimated the sum the
grower cleared per car at ss13.
He took up railroad service in con-
clusion. and said that ii was the same
old story so far as the rates We're con-
cerned and that all must work for
lower rates.
WORK OF EXCHANGE
J. L. Nagle Of Sacramento read the
report Of the California fruit exchange.
lie said:
The exchange has completed this
season the most successful year it
has had in its history.
To give YOU an idea of the record
made by the exchange in some of
its shipments. ] beg to submit to
you the following figures:
The FlOrin fruit growers asso-
citation, one Of the oldest and most
successful associations in the state
shipped through the California
fruit exchange this season, 169 cars
Of grapes. the gross sales of which
realized S225,820-an average of
1886 a car. Those cars We're dis
tributed in five auction markets
and the distribution was so equal
that there was only difference Of