The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-02-14
BERRY GROWERS
FORM new union
Determine to Organize at Least IS
Per Cent of Growers and to
Sell Only F. 0. B.

About one third of the strawberry
acreage of the valley was represented
at the meeting last Saturday called
for the purpose of perfecting a
marketing organization.
Considerable discussion brought
out the fact that the growers were
about equally divided in opinion as
to whether it were best to market
through the Yakima Valley Fruit
Growers Association or to form an
organization entirely independent
for the marketing of the berry crop.
The latter course was finally decided
upon and a committee consisting of
E. 0. Keene, J. w. Behrmann and
l.. S. Grassland were appointed to
draft plans. This committee will
be in session tomorrow afternoon at
the Commercial Club rooms to re-
ceive any suggestions that may be
offered, and on Saturday of next
week, Feb. %, another mass meet
ing of the growers will be held at
the same place to hear the COM
mittee's report and to decide upon
a course of action.
The meeting seemed to be unani-
nous upon two points-frst, that
any association that might be Or
ganized will be of no value at all
unless at least rs per cent of the
growers will unite; and second, that
no berries will be shipped on con-
signment but strictly f. o. b. plan
be adopted and adhered to. In
writing of the meeting, H. w. Des-
oranges, who acted as chairman,
says:
There is not a place in the en-
tire northwest where it is possible
to produce better strawberry than
in the Kennewick Valley, or moro
extensively speaking, in that part
of the Columbia River Valley ex-
tending from White Bluffs to Hover.
There is not a more profitable crop
grown or one that brings quicker
returns. Nor is there a district
where the crop natures at more
opportune time-when they enjoy
an exclusive market. There is not
time when the market does not
call for about ten times the amount
of berries produced. The only OBJ
stacle in the way of making the
strawberry industry a complete sue
cess is the system of marketing,
and this is wholly within our own
hands. The question is whether
the growers will continue to COM
pete with each other, sending on
consignment and demoralizing the
market or whether they will unite
and market all the berries through
one channel. | think all agree
that our marketing system has de-
generated during the past two years
until our industry is facing ruin.
"The salvation of the strawberry
industry lies in the organization of
the growers, and this can only be
made a success by having practical
ly every grower. An organization
of only small portion of the grow.
ers is worse than useless. To pre-.
vent disaster and to put the berry
business upon a business basis, it is
proposed to organize a growers
union, including at least rs per
cent of the crop, and market our
berries, without any exception, +. o.
b. Kennewick. This system has
been adopted at White Salmon,
under far worse market conditions
than ours, and after two years. try
out it has proved a decided success.
Last season there was not single
Independent shipped from that
point.
All who were present at last Sat-
urday's meeting we're appointed a
committee of one to interview their
neighbors. If you were not present
ask your neighbor abont it. Talk
it over and don't fail to be present
at a meeting to he held Saturday,
February %, at 2 O clock. Every
one who has given the marketing
question any thought realizes the
necessity for action and we want
every strawberry grower present at
this meeting.
In the meantime any inform
alton you may have that will lie
helpful kindly communicate it to
L. S. Grassland or the undersigned.
H. w. DEsGRANGEs." !"