The Delta independent., 1912-01-19
FRUIT GROWERS
GETTING FLEECED
DENVER ASSOCIATIONS BLAMED
Growers Association and Fruit job
ters' Association Alleged to be
Working Together to Hold
up the Producer.

just now agaiI st what is styled an
octopus which is gripping one of the
states Leading industries-fruit
growing-and If this fight contin-
ues with as much spirit and force
as it has already developed for any
length of time, the battle will cas-
lily be won, and all the Western
Slope territory will be benefited to
an almost uncalculable extent.
T.. &. Macmechen. a special writ
er for a Denver daily newspaper
states in a recent article that fruit
raising is being strangled by food
ring. and he then proceeds to show
the means of strangulation as used
by the Fruit Jobbers association
and the Growers association. One
of the most convincing exhibits in
connection with the trust opera
tions is shown in a letter from Ira
B. Cline OF Paonia, who is presi-
dent of the state board OF horticul-
ture, and herewith presented:
Paonia. Colo. Jan 10. 1871.
Il have been reading with much
interest, the articles anent the con
ditions existing in the produce mar
kets. These articles are timely and
We fruit growers of the Western
Slope hope they will succeed to such
an extent in exposing conditions that
the producers and consumers Will
get at least half what is coming to
them. We know what the trouble is
but we don't know how to remedy it.
"As a grower and shippre of fruit
/ have had several experiences with
the combines that have not been
pleasant AT one time | opened ne
gotiations with the Retail Grocers
to sell them my apples direct, ana
offered them my crop at so cents
less per box than they were paying
to the commission houses. they evil
denced much interest ut first. but
finally told me that they dared not
buy of me because II they did they
would be held up on their tropie-
nj fruits and nuts so that they would
in the end be loser.
Another season Consigned
some carloads of peaches to Denver
and returns were made to me on
them SO that they netted me oniy
about 80 cents per box the freight
and icing is S cents per box. But
n few days later / had business in
Boulder and | saw dray unloading
some OF my peaches to retailer
1 went in and asked him what they
cost him and he told me and showed
me his invoice. Sl.25 per box IN
Denver got a little less thah
30 cent?. the railroad charges were
is cents, leaving more than DO
cents to be accounted for between
me and the retailer
Last fall at the State Fair
had in charge several hundred boxes
of show peaches that went through
the week in exceptionally good shape
and | offered them for sale and the
best offers | could get from the
dealers of that city was 80 cents per
box, although that very day sa"
special sales advertised where they
quoted fourth grade peaches at
S1.25 per box. The quality of peach
es that was offering always
brng at least double the money that
the grade they offered do. Beihg
unsuccessful in getting an offer OF
half the value of the stuff re
tailed 1t myself at 81 per box and
was sold out in less than hour.
"The past year the growers OF
peaches on the Western slope ala
not net over 80 cents per box Tor
their peach crop but the consumers
in Denver paid from 10 cents TO
80 n box, the railroad got Is cents
for the freight and icing. Who got
the balance?
"IJnless something Is done in the
near future the fruit growing INDUS
try is going into decline and 1t IL an
industry that would be Just in its
infancy IL 1t were not for the throt-
tie hold on It by the commission COM
bines in Denver and elsewhere.
yours truly.
81. Il. CLINE,
"pres. State Board OF Horticulture.
This exposition of combination
methods employed against the iruit
growers of the state was begun by
the Denver News some weeks ago
and the publicity thus gained mas
already reached all sections OF Colo
RADIO where the industry is OF any
moment whatever and In many IN
stances the newspapers of those sec
tions have taken the matter up and
are using best efforts to bring about
changes which will result in the
real producer getting his Just dues
The Grand Junction News Is one
of these to enter into the hght
against combined efforts to rob the