The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-09-22
GOOD PRICES
WILL PREVAIL
An Encouraging Report From Cit
rus Exchange Sale Manager
ORANGE OUTLOOK fine
Mr.. Burton Returns From Visit TO Great
Markets and Reports Dealers Pleased
With Exchange Methods

"In all my experience in handling
citrus fruit, | was never so encouraged
as | am today, says X. P. Burton, sales
manager of the Florida Citrus Ex-
change who is on tour of inspection
through the principal fruit markets of
the country. sizing up the situation
and laying plans for the seasons work,
in letter to the sub-exchange man.
ayers throughout the state and to the
orange growers generally.
"In every city visited by me ! have
made personal canvass Of the dealers
and have presented the following
points to them: First, we are against
the shipment of immature fruit, and
will not tolerate it from our packing
houses; second, we control ninety per
cent. of the Parson Brown oranges in
Florida, of which there are not over
1875, 600 boxes; that these will not be
ready for market before the middle OF
October, anu that not box will get
out of our packing house branded Par
son Browns that will not be true to
name, but, if some misguided grower
should violate this, and it is brought to
our attention we will be just as quick
to ask the pure food department OF
Washing ton to inspect it, condemn 1t
and cOnfscate it as we would a car I'M
properly branded by one OF our COM
petitors. Third, our associations have
invested in the last two years, a quarter
of million of dollars in packing houses
and equipments, they have systema.
tized the picking, hauling, grading and
loading, which has given US prestige
all over this country, and that each OF
our associations this season wall put
out better work than they did last
wear, | trust that when the approach
ing season is over the sales department
will not have to apologize for any car
of fruit put up by you.
.In all my experience in handling
citrus fruits, was never so encouraged
as am today. | received from the
dealers visited by me, almost unani-
mously enthusiastic commentator for
the Improvement that we have already
made. These dealers have assured me
that they will give our fruit preference
at higher price than that which they
named by our competitors.
~ am informed that there is no buy
ing of oranges in Florida by specula.
tors; this will lead growers to imagine
that there is some market which makes
it unsafe for operators to buy at
reasonable figure. You may assure
your neighbors that this is a condition
that our competitors may seek to use
later on in an effort to buy at low
price. which is not justified by the
conditions as they now exist. Call
fornia is winding up her largest sea-
sons business, and growers are re-
ceiving today more money for their
lowest grade Valencia lates than they
nave received for several years for
their first grade. Their lowest grades
are selling at prices netting them $2Io
to So f. b. California.
''The crop prospects throughout the
South are the best in many years, ana
all dealers are looking forward to a
large trade. They do not care whether
they pay So O0f. o. b. or 81. W If they
have a Steady market which will insure
them profit. =.
"The reason that dealers are not
buying in Florida is that the trade
throughout the country is looking to
The Florida Citrus Exchange for sup.
DIV of fruit properly graded and hand
ed. The small operators know this
md are afraid to buy, as they Will
find it extremely difficult to sell. 1t Is
necessary for every association, If they
rave not already done 50, to get busy
right now and perfect their plans for
putting out the best grading and pack
ng that is possible to get out their
louses. 1t il also necessary that they
<eep after their neighbors who are not
N the association and let them know
What the conditions are in order that
hey may not become panicky and sell
heir fruit to spectators at ridiculous
" low prices, thereby losing what the
rrowers are entitled to, and placing
these operators in a position where 1t
viii be extremely difficult for the ex-
.hange to maintain a fair market price
for the fruit that is in the organlza'
ion."