The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-06-14

! "''o mature. The Dur
chaser felt that it was his right +,
send this fruit to market earl,
enough to anticipate the decItn,
which would wipe out his profit an,
probably result in a loss. Those win
were handling for the account of tht
grower were not interested bevont
the price per box that they received
for their services. Much Of II wo,
handled at fixed price per box re-
CARELESS of what it netted the grow
er; hence they were interested in no
ginning as early as possible. sbinnine
as tast as possible and moving as
much as possible as the volume NOV
ed governed the net amount of thei,
income for the seasons business In
private conversation with a numbe,
of the most intelligent of these oper
ators, they admitted that it was
wrong, that the shipping of this green
stuff killed the market, but tool, the
position that if they did not ship it.
somebody else would, and they were
IN the deal for all they could get out
OF 1t. | have studied this question
closely, both in California and in
Florida, as well as in the markets.
nave seen promising markets 90 to
pieces when the volume of fruit of.
Tered was not excessive, but | never
saw 1t go to pieces under a normal
supply unless there was some inner
ent defect in the fruit. California
navels often cross the continent, en-.
counter1ng extremely low tempera-
lures in transit, are frozen en- route,
and, when they finally reach destina,
ton, are thawed ont and become bit
ter. The most disastrous season that
| ever saw in California fruits was
the season of 1903 and 1904, one of
the severest winters on record, when
practically everything that reached
the Eastern markets for six weeks
had been seriously damaged by cold
in transit. Prices were disastrous.
When this period passed, a large vol
ume of good fruit, well matured and
in perfect condition and sizes, was
sold at about the same price as that
the damaged fruit sold for before the
consumers were convinced that they
were good. When confidence had
again been established it seemed to
be practically impossible to overstock
these markets. Knowing these things
to be true, the management of the
Florida Citrus Exchange, in its first
seasons business, placed itself square
ly against the movement of imma-
ture fruits, as there was no other
way to rehabilitate the market for
Florida oranges and place them where
they should stand, in the lead of all
others in this country. The growers
themselves, in the main, had come
to learn the effect of putting this
green, immature stuff on the market,
and they are not to be held RESPONSE
BILE for the shipments that were made
by brokers and spectators. Growers
who were buyers and shippers prior
to the organization of the Exchange
have assured me that the industry
had reached such a stage that they
could make nothing on their own fruit,
but that they eyened up and man
aged to live on the profits that they
made in handling the fruit of their
neighbors. A sad state! So far as
know, there isn't factor today
operating in Florida, California or in
any other of the markets of this
who doesn't admit that the
influence of green or immature citrus |
'ruits on the market is such as to |
destroys values. 1t curtails consump |
ion, reduces the volume of business
hat can be handled by wholesale fruit |
lealers, who, of necessity, are the |
distributors after the fruit reaches |
he markets, and deprives the grow.
n of a living price for his product. |
Fhe cause producing this effect is
he failure on the part of the consum-
" to accept this fruit and pay their
rood money for it.
The Western Fruit Jobbers' Associ.
ition of America held its annual con
,ention January 3-4-5, 1912, in st.
.ouis. On page 76 of the report of
heir proceedings is found the fol
owing language. embodied in the re-
,ort of the legislative committee of
hat association:
GREEN CITRUS FRUITS. Our
ecretary also requested the advice
# the committee upon food inspec-
ion decision No. 1885, of the United
states department of agriculture, rel
tive to the coloring of green citrus
ruits. 1t would appear from the
uling of the board of food and drug
Inspection that it is not intended to
Interfere with the commercial move
lent of oranges or lemons, where
he fruit has attained maturity, size
nd acidity, even if the color should
e greenish. In our opinion, this rule
ill not hurt business, but, on the
ontrary. it will caution the grower
nd shippers not to be in too great
urry to pack and market their fruit
reen fruit or immature fruit, arti-
cially colored at the opening of the
eason, is often detrimental to the
1bbers interests, and we believe
nat if growers and shippers would
old the fruit until it natures, the
assumption would be increased. We
ecognize the difficulty of discrimi-
ating between the various grades of
reenness, and feel that the board
{ food inspection should be very
arefuI in their decisions to the end
hat the industry may not be injured.
Correspondence with our members,
trough the office of the secretary,
sads us to believe that the jobbers
refer to handle mature, ripe stock,
~ Ca uricb m advance the or.