The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-09-29
GETTING PROFITS FROM FRUIT.
A. L. Roberts Writes Splendid Ar
tiCle for Field and Farm.

IlCIe Tor f1ei0 ana faf1n.
For the benefit of the fruit in
dustry in Colorado l would urge
that as growers We take a broad
view of the marketing problem. 1t
has been clearly demonstrated,
think. that fruit growers business
does not cease when the fruit is
grown. II only ceases when the mon
ey for the crop is safely in the
bank and then only to begin again
in The preparations for a new crop.
This thing of turning ones crop over
TO some outside commission house
TO sell, although sometimes coming
up TO expectations. has neverthe-
les so frequently ended in financial
disaster to the growers concerned
thar enlightened communities have
long since evolved a better plan,
thai OF marketing through associa-
lions OF growers.
BY this method a sufficient guam
tity OF fruit is brought together to
enable the association to employ
its manager or managers, sales man
ager or salesman. These men are
interested only in getting as much
profit for the growers as possible.
The largest and most notable ex-
ample of this in the United States,
or the world. perhaps. is the Califor-
mia Fruit Growers Exchange which
has its agents in every large mar.
ket in the United States and Canada
as well as a representative in Eur
ers' exchanges in Florida, Texas.
Washington, Oregon, Utah and Idaho
as well as in Colorado.
Taking into consideration the re-
turns to the growers from associa-
tons the country over and compar-
ing them with the profits of all
private shippers the country over, l
believe the results from the asso-
Citations will be found to be the
greater. This is not saying that a
few Individual shippers may not
have an advantageous connection
with some market in which they OBJ
tain just as good results as asso-
Citations do. but it is not the rule.
Then, too, associations are great
benefit to a community in a great
many other ways than simply sell
ling fruit
a good association will sell any
product the growers have to dis
pose of in any large quantity. 1t
will supply its growers with the
best packing supplies, the best spray
material. the best spraying mach
merry and so forth at reasonable
prices. usually lower than private
stores will do. 1t will also be a
bureau of information at all times
and its officers will be constantly
watching for knowledge that will be
of benefit to its shippers. Now.
there are different plans upon which
an association can be run. Some of
them take entire charge of the pack
ing as we'll as the shipping of the
fruit of their growers and others
simply to market the packed pro
duct as it is delivered to them. l
believe, however, that all associa-
tons must exercise some jurisdiction
in formulating rules for grading and
packing.
The best way. believe. is to
have all fruit packed directly by the
associations. Undoubtedly in this
manner the greater uniformity in
grading and packing can be secured.
And this will be found big ad-
vantage in marketing, as all buyers
desire uniformity in pack and pack
age. Most associations pro rate their
returns and all should do so. In
this way each grower receives the
same for like grade and variety.
And in doing this 1t can easily be
seen that it is much more fair to
each grower If the greatest posi-
BILE uniformity has been attained IN
grading and packing and this can
only be done when all packing is in
direct charge of the association
management.