The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
CANNING INDUSTRY
is EXTENSIVE ONE

II sugar beetS can be rightly termed
the "poney crop" or Weber county,
then tomatoes. and by this is meant the
canning industry in general can be con-
sidercd the big money crop" While the
farmer can make more money per acre
by cuItivating tomatoes, he Is not so sure
OF his crop. Under favorable conditions
for both. It would be hard matter TO
estimate which OF the two crops Is the
more important TO Weber county The
canning industry OF Utah ccnters IN this
county. fourteen OF the twenty-sIx can
ming factories OF the state being located
here and a large percentage of the re-
mainder arc In Davis county.
With prospects OF the greatest season
In the history OF Weber county. weather
conditions became unfavorable in the
latter part OF the season and reduced
tho pack 10 60 per cent OF normal. This
was due 10 cold, wet weather. which
prevented the tomatoes from ripening,
and caused early frosts. It is estima ted
by II. l.. fIcrringtou, secretary OF the
Utah Gamers association, that. the first
heavy frost this year cost the tomato
growers Of Weber county no less than
100000. Hundreds OF tons OF tomatoes
did not rlpen. but Weber county and the
state OF Utah we're not alone in this re-
spect. The failure OF the tomato crop
was, very general throughout the United
States. Utah ls fifth among all the
states OF the union IN the tomato pack
ing Industry, yet IL Will occupy n place
even nearer the TOP for this season. In
Colorado this season the tomato pack
amounted to 5000 cases or an amount
equal 70 a. two-days' run 1T factory
equal to the capacity OF tho Utah Can
ning compauys plant IN this city.
- IL -.
rington. the total output Of the Utah
canning factories this season amounted
20 $4,000 csseg. Or 15,600,000 Gang. OF
factories Of Weber county Tho $4,000
cases consisted OF the following: Torna-
toes. 1000 cases; peas, III, 900 ceseg.
mlscellapeous fruits and vegetables. S5,-
900 cases. Because OF the unforeseen
shortage In the tomato crop. the pack
9rs were forced to pro rata their output
lew other companies Of this county were
able to I'LL 90 per cent OF their orders.
While other companies in the state could
furn.eh but 10 per. cent OF their con-
tracts Two factories did not pack
single case OF tomatoes AT the rate OF
80 per ton Tor tomatoes. the farmers Of
600. whereas, under favorable conditions
they would have received more than
100000 for this one crop. Other than ton1a-
toes. the crops which interest the can
whole the industry Is growing. great
progress having been noted during the
past season In the packing OF peas. Ad-
OF peas for canning is being Installed in
several Of the local factories.
With freight rate OF 55 cents TO
llnd their best market In Texas. Okla
homa and kansas There are more prod
gets Of the Utah canning factories shipped
direct TO Oklahoma City than TO any
nf yh1 ic--- -
by local packers. Owing to the general
shortage In the tomato crop throughout
The country the market even at this time
is In z barren condition and will neces-
sltate a, greatly increased pack during
the coming season. II stock market terms
can be applied to canned tomatoes. il
might be SAID that the. popular vese-
table is strictly at premium. This con-
diuou means much for Weber county
during 1913. Preparations have already
been made for 4 greatly increa sed acre
for every bushel Of tomatoes that can
be grown.
Industrially, the canning factories oc-
eupy prominent place in the list 0!
Weber county's payroll institutions. More
than 1000 persons are employed in tho
factories during the packing season and
receive annually about 100000 in wages,
In addition 10 this, the farmers pay out
about $4,000 per day In wages for tomato
pickers during The time that the crop la
being transferred 10 the canneries.
\ feature OF the canning industry which
Is important to the consumer is the co.
operation between the packers and the
pure food authorities. Since the organlla-
ton OF the Utah Gamers association
there has never been q. deliberate evasion
OF the pure food regulations and the
doors OF the factories are always open
10 the state or local inspectors Modern
methods or sterilization have been adopt
ed at almost all plants In the county.
while the entire factories are models OF
neatness and sanitation. In no process o!
packing employed in this county or In
the bottling OF any product. such as
catsup and preserves. have the authori-
ties yet discovered the use OF deleterious
chemicals,