The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-03-09
EXCHANGE WILL
BE TESTED
A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF GRADING
Hood River Not Likely to Affiliate this
Year Plans of Exchange Sub
mitted to Growers.

The most important action of the
convention of delegates from the
various fruit growing sections of the
Northwest, which met last week at
Walla, Walla, Washington, was to
decide to give the central selling
agency trial 1t was expected that
the time of the meeting would be
taken up to great extent by discus.
slons of those opposing the proposed
movement. However, the new selling
plan seemed to have but little opposi-
tion from the delegates. The first
days work of the meeting resulted in
an agreement on uniform system of
grading apples for packing, which is
to be followed by the entire North.
west.
1t includes extra fancy stand
ard and &c" grades The first is to
be of perfect apples, in which varieties
are to show rs per cent color and parti-
red varieties so per cent. The "stand-
arc" is the same, save that single
sting, scab the size of a nickel and
lack of color is permissible. "C'
garde includes all other merchantabe
apples.
c. II. Sproat, who represented the
Hood River Apple Growers Union at
the convention, is member of the
committee of eleven appointed TO per-
feet the change. Mr.. Sproat, since his
return, in discussing the matter says
| that the plans as outlined by the dele
| gates of the convention will be pub
Iished in all of the local papers of the
sections interested, IN order that the
growers may study them and discuss
them at the regular annual meetings
of their different organizations. 1t is
up to the growers, he continued, as to
whether or not they want to affiliate
with this central selling agency. Mr.
Sproat said that he gave the committee
no encouragement in respect to Hood
River joining the association hthe scom-
| ing season, because the varieties of
this valley are so different FfrOm the
principal varieties of other sections
and shave to be handled Haccordingly.
Theoretically, he concluded, the central
selling plan is all right, but it is
necessary for it to demonstrate its
practcabiity, and it is not very likely
| that Hood River growers are going to
affiliate with the movement while it is
in the experimental stage.
At the meeting of the directors of the
Apple Growers Union last Saturday
afternoon it was decided to suggest
that the gf 0ors make study of the
following plans of the Central Ex-
change. in order that they may be
discussed at later periods and some
final decisions arrived at:
"The Central Exchange will nave
| tbn oy1InutNTn gnilipn Af all tbn Fp,Iif
products controlled by the district fas-
s0ciation holding a membership in the
Central.
at will establish a sales system
covering all markets where it is prac-
tical to sell the products Of its members.
1T Will establish such rules and reg
ulati0ns as are necessary for the
proper caring for and marketing of
said products, also such rules as are
necessary for the maintaining of uni
form grades and packs and for the
placing of the products of its members
on the market in the best and most
salable condition.
"It will maintain an efficient system
of market and crop reports.
ut will do such advertising as is
found necessary.
'It will strive to eliminate all un-
necessary intermediate expense
wherever possible.
"The Central Exchange will be
maintained by selling charge Of not
to exceed 10 cents box for apples and
on other products in proportion to the
cost.
"The name, Central Exchange, and
such trade mark or brands as it may
establish, shall appear in a prominent
place on each package.
''The product of each district shall
be marked on their own merits.
Each district shall be given its pro-
portionate share Of all markets.
''The district association will have
control over the grading and packing
Of the product of its members.
'"rhey will employ sufficient num-
ber of inspectors to supervise grading,
packing and loading.
''The operating expenses Of the dis
trict associations will be met by a
commission charge on all products and
supplies handled.
"All profits derived from charges
made to members for the handling Of
their productssand supplies, in excess
Of the maximum amount decided upon
for the surplus fund, and all money re-
ceived from the Central Exchange in
the form of profits from handling pro-
ducts, shall be distributed annually
among the members in proportion to
the product handled for them.
''The membership Of the district as
sociation shall consist of growers or
CARNATIONS.
"The affairs Of the district associa-
tion shall be managed by an executive
committee Of five trustees.
"The growers organizations shall
have full charge of handling and pre-
pairing the products for market.
at shall employ and have control
over all help needed.
+ ut shall provide warehouses; pack
ing houses or loading platforms ncccs
sary for handling products.
CAN products for shipment are to be
turned over to the district association
when properly loaded on board cars or
other means of transportation to
market. as may be specified.
ut may own and operate carriers,
by-product factories of all kinds, cold
storage and preceding plants.
| Growers organizations shall make
; loading or handling charge Of sutti-
, cient amount per package on all pro-
, ducts or supplies handled, to meet the
expense of the organization.
"The growers shall, when called
upon to do 80 by the Central Exchange,
enter into binding contract, appoint
e ing the Central Exchange his exclusive
I selling agent for all of his products
of the kinds and varieties handled by
the exchange except as otherwise pro-
vided for in the contract.
"The contract shall be for period Of
< three years, provided, however, that
y any member may withdraw March ! of
5 any year, by giving Is days previous
notice in writing.