The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-12-23
QUIT THE CONSIGNMENT HABIT
Chicago Trip Proves to Associations Local
Manager the Pressing Need of
C~o-Operation

Growers OF Wenatchee and Cash
mere have simply got to quit the con-
signment habit" says c. M. Furry,
local manager OF the Wenatchee Valley
Fruit Growers Association, in the Cash
mere Record, after returning from a
months trip to Chicago and other
Eastern points in the interests of the
association.
They are cutting their W threats,
those who insist on c~onsigning their
apples; for they are getting not only
less for their apples than they should,
but they are also discouraging buyers
for next year, as so many apples go out
on consignment that buyers can't sell
at a profit.
The plans Of the association are the
proper plans under which to work
selling f. o. b. at shipping point, thus
protecting growers for that season.
While in Chicago, on account Of the
apple show being on, I met and was
in close touch with most of the buyers
from the big Eastern cities. Without
exception l found them all to favor the
Wenatchee valley apple, and to prefer
handling them over apples from any
other section of the United States; but
they do want US to get out of that con-
signment habit, to protect them as we'll
as ourselves.
The fact that the big land show
was on at the same time as the apple
show hurt the attendance at the latter.
Street cars bearing intending visitors to
the apple show passed the land show,
in front Of which was an immense pla-
card 1000, 900 Apples on Exhibit"
and a megophone calling attention to
the apples exhibited within. Thus
many people stopped off, thinking they
were entering the real apple show.
Later on the management of the land
show took measures for apprising every
visitor that the real apple show was yet
to be seen, and the apple show returned
to favor; so that the last few days saw
a greatly increased attendance at the
apple show. Visitors were Of the class
that came because they were interested
in the subject, so that the advertising
value Of the apple show has been great.
l heard hundreds OF compliments for
the show, and calculations of wonder
and establishment at the immense ex-
hibit of high-class apples.
The Fruit Growers Association has
shipped nearly 700 cars from here.
Some arrived in bad condition from
cars overheated by overlooking. We
have put in claims for such damage
against the railroad, and expect they
will be adjusted.
The output far exceeded the esti-
mate Of the growers this season. Con-
s~equently we had more apples than we
sold, and twenty carloads were placed
in cold storage. We would not sacrifice
those apples at an auction and, while
it may take a little longer to get the
money Ior the growers, we will get
what the apples are worth.
Naturally, the market is not right,
now, especially on Spitzenbergs, which
are way down to the bottom price. I
expect the market will quickly pick
up. I found more apples in cold stor-
age in Chicago than last year; but in
the East as a whole there are fewer
apples in cold storage.
But to again accen my complaint,
the poor condition of the market is d.
rectly caused by growers who consign
their apples to commission merchants.
I found several cars of Cashmere apples
some extra fancy, A No. l apples
selling at auction from 80 to IS cents
under what bona fde buyers are hold
ing their apples. Those extra fancy
were as good as we can furnish from
the best orchards of Cashmere, and
buyers will undersell US as long as they
are on the market"