The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-12-27
A PROBLEM OF IMPORTANCE.

To the Fruit Growers Associations and
Commercial Clubs of the Okanogan
Valley:
There should be fruit growers asso-
citation that will represent the combined
strength of the whole Okanogan valley,
from the Canadian line to the Columbia.
In fact there must be. unless we want to
feed valuable apples TO pigs. The day
has passed when you could make an or
chard pay simply by raising good fruit.
The selling end has become the big end.
In union there is strength" is an old saw
but its teeth are still sharp and it GER
tainly "cuts ice"
Hood river is splendid example where
their compact and powerful organization
has brought success to Il district where
the season is too long to raise really
lonng-keeping, apple; Yakima is ''hor-
ducng district of the state has failed of
success because it couldn't get together
within itself. Two large competing asso-
Citations ana several local ones operate
there, and n. G. Gilbert. the best authori-
ty i'm that valley. stated last week that
the Yakima growers had lost two million
dollars this season because they had
failed to form single central organiza-
ton such as WenatCheee has this year,
The best informed fruit growers in the
whole Northwest. $50 of them from all the
main districts of three states. met in
Spokane last week and went on record in
favor of some central selling organiza-
ton that will carry the strength of the
whole Northwest behind it. Such a step
must come sooner or later, and we MUST
be in shape to cooperate with it, and Sc
cure our proper representation in it, for
our future depends on the reputation of
our district and we MUST let the world
know that we are on earth.
The Okanogan Valley is a horticultural
unit; the same high class of fruit of the
same group of varieties is grown in all
parts of it, 1t is also an economic unit;
the railroad now building will link all
parts of it closely together and Oroylle
will be closer to Brewster next fall than
Okanogan now is. All parts of the valley
Will ship some fruit next year. and ii is
time we We're getting started Many of
us Will ship no fruit for several years but
this movement means dollars and cents
to us right now as it has Il direct bear
ing on the value of our land. And by
starting little early we can work out
the differences of opinion that must arise
ana be in smooth running order for the
big business later.
TO start discussion | suggest n tenta-
tive plan. Local associations should be
or are already started at Brewster. Ma
,ott, OkanoSan, Omak. Riverside Tomas
ket and Oroville. Others will doubtless
be organized later. Let each local have
representation in the Okanogan Valley
FRUIT Growers Association. and give this
central body power to act on all general
problems affecting the district as a whole
such as grading and packing rules and
their enforcement. freight rates nego-
tiations with larger organizations, and
other selling problems. Let each local
select competent men that it can trust
and don't be afraid to rive them power to
act for it. There is no other way to TO
Gus our combined strength on the propo-
sltion; 1t is much too big for any of us
10 tackle alone. Let's forget our little
townsite and real estate fights and get
together on this thing. If we can't de-
cide which town shall be Headquarters
without fight. let's meet on an island
in the river. Let the commercial clubs
and the fruit growers associations al
ready organized take up the matter at
once ana somehow or ANYHOW. let's get
action. What do you think?
Sincerely.
w. c. MULDROW.