The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-10-18
\. OAK, FRUIT AIDS.
MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION IS FAR.
REACHING IN ITS ENDEAvoR
TO HELP.
PRICES ARE IMPROVED.
Middlemen's Profits are Cut Out BY
Novel PIan-lmmense Saving
For the Farmer AZ
q Result.

st. Paul.-Ihrough the efforts of
the Minnesota Fruit association, many
farmers OF North Dakota as well as
Minnesota have this year saved from
two to seven cents per bushel on po-
tatoes. in the vicinity of so cents per
ton on cabbages, and proportionately
on other vegetables and fruits, elm
mating them from what they term to
be the grasp of commission men of
the Twin City and other markets and
making it decidedly easier for them
to market their products than in 9TH
er years.
Work Extended to Other States.
The association which will not be a
year old until December. works at
present In Western Wisconsin and the
eastern parts Of the Dakotas. On &C.
count of high railroad rates, they have
been unable to get farther east or
west.
In past years, before the association
became fact, farmers and producers
at the mercy of commission mer-
chants, many Of whom were unscrupu-
lous, could not get the price for their
products they needed. Moreover, they
paid rate of commission up to 10 per
cent. The unfair practices of some
commission merchants has led to the
farmers organization, which has cost
the commission merchants Of Mime
sofa thousands of dollars in business.
Inscriptions Dealers Baked.
For the members of the Fruit asso-
citation these practices of unscrupu-
lous commission men are thing of
the past. The association has a man.
ager, II. H. Rowley, an expert organ
izer and association man, and through
his Office the farmer sends all his
products that formerly went through
the hands of commission men. Mr.
Rowley succeeded R. A. Kirkpatrick of
the farm school, September 16, and
declares the Minnesota association is
meeting with success.
1t is the duty of the manager to
Keep posted on the markets of de-
mand throughout the Central west.
Should there be no market for a GER
tain commodity in st. Paul, then MIR.
Rowley looks to Minneapolis and if
none is there, then to Milwaukee, Chi
cago and Illinois and Iowa points. In
this way not only the farmer is able
to receive the highest prices for his
goods, but the law of supply and de.
mand is aided TO quite an extent.
No Increase to Consumer.
But the farmer getting higher
price for his products does not in
crease the price to the ultimate con.
sumer. 1t does, however, cut out
middleman, or two, the product does
not spoil and the supply at various
points is balanced. The association
manager inspects all carloads and
places a value on them. The pur-
chase by the wholesale dealer is an
actual sale.
eemoans Lack Of Enthusiasm,
Mr.. Rowley bemoans the lack Of en-
thusiasm the average Minnesota farm.
er displays over his apples. With a
fair crop as to quantity and a good
quality the farmers will not learn,
says Mr.. Rowley, that they can get
more for their apples and compete
with Idaho and Washington, If they
would pack their apples in boxes. In
stead OF so doing, the farmer usually
chooses the easier method of selling
his apples. He throws large and
small ones alike into barrel or bush.
Ell basket and sends them to market.
The barrels contain about three bush.
els and are selling in the vicinity of
$6. Mr.. Rowley says it is discourag-
Ing to see apples, apples that have
proven themselves the best in the
country, selling three bushels for Sc
IN barrel and right aside of them a
bushel box of Washington apples, not
possessing the flavor, selling for "a.