Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-27
FRUIT GROWERS CO.
OPERATE IN STATE
Organization Largely Increased
Profit of Members
$1.00 PER BARREL LAST YEAR
Shenandoah Valley Fruit Growers
Associations Work

Associations Work
Over two years ago Virginia fruit
growers responded &c the spirit OF
cooperation, which in recent years
has rapidly spread over the fruit
sections of the United States. Some
Of the leading lights in the industry
organized the Shenandoah Valley
Fruit Growers Association, which
operated for the first time during
the season OF 1910. In it's first year
it faced the usual difficulties that
such an organization must continu-
ally face and overcome, but through
the perseverance, OF its officers an
anviable record was made in the
way OF lettering market conditions
for large number of growers and
it was conceded the association
meant at least so cents a barrel
more than its members would have
received if, as formerly, they had
been compelled to sell to the specu-
lator. AS result of it's record in
1910. the membership increased
and spread to sections outside the
Shenandoah Valley, so that last
spring it's corporate name was
changed TO Virginia Fruit Growers,
incorporated, with Offices at Staun-
ton.
During the season just passed the
new association has shipped apples
for growers in Is counties to points
of destination 1000 miles apart, and
it's members, in the main, concede
the organization has saved them
around 81 barrel.
This is large saving and must
be accepted as splendid record for
an organization operating for only
it's second year in "a territory where
orchards are widely scattered. and
operating in way that has meant a
revolution in the entire industry.
Under the old system the growers
were accustomed TO sell their apples
in the orchards delivered on the
packing tables, and they were CON-
PEELED to accept the operators price.
Furthermore. the growers were not
identified in the markets with their
fruit, thereby losing the profits of
the reputation that should accrue to
them from tie production OF fine
fruit. Again, it rarely occurred
that packages of apples thus ship.
ped by the operators bore anything
that would identify the fruit with
Virginia.
Fine Virginia Albemarle Pippin.
York Imperial, Winesap and other
red varieties, which grow to per-
lection 10 the Old Dominion, were
sold in foreign and distant Ameri.
can markets, bringing fine reputa.
ton and excellent profits to the
operators, but only ordinary profit
to the grower and little reputation
to the State for excellent apples. 1t
is known to be fact that the Abe
marle Pippin has been sold in the
for eign markets as Hudson River
Newtown Pippin.
From its inception, the associa-
ton has fully realized that under
the old system too little attention
has been paid to standards. There
fore, the first thing considered und-
err the new regime was the proper
grading, packing and marketing of
its apples. The organization has at
all times sought to the full extent of
its means to see that it's specifica.
tions for grading and packing are
strictly carried out, and in the main,
its efforts in this respect have been
largely successful.
The Virginia law imposing q tax
on peddlers was upheld &c coos,i.n