Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-12-13
PRODUCERS MUST COOPERATE TO
MAKE HOME BUYING A SUCCESS
Or. z. v. Wilcox Outlines Plan
That Should Make Move 4
ment Prove Winner


ing campaign there must be co-opera-
operation among the buyers alone. 1t
Is absolutely necessary for the pro-
ducers to cooperate with each other
TO secure the best returns for their
labor and investment"
Such Is the text of the message DIR.
Il v. Wilcox, agent In charge OF the
federal experiment stations, has
brought home with him, and which
he promises to repeat from time to
time as he WORKS to encourage the
farmers over the territory to form
themselves into cooperative associa-
tons for the better marketing OF their
products, and for the development OF
their industry In Hawaii. lad K.
Having toured Oregon, Wisconsin
and Iowa, studying the various coop
erative bodies Of farmers in the three
states, DIR. Wilcox returned this week
more confident than ever OF the n
cessity of the producers here joining
together, and of the advantages to
be enjoyed by such marketing unions,
What he found In Oregon, In Wiscon-
sin and Iowa, where about every pro-
Queer belongs to cooperative assoc
citation, has more than proved to him
the absolute necessity for the farm
.ers TO get together, headed by one
OF them who has practical business
Judgment he says
Movement Is Started #-# -
DR.. Wilcox has already started the
cooperative movement on the islands.
He has induced producers in several
communities to get together into an
association. The marketing feature of
his work is now evidenced by about
$1,000 month OF business here, the
proceeds from fruits and vegetables
sent to Honolulu and put ON the mar.
ket through the efforts of DR.. Wilcox.
But though this Is promising sign
OF success, he realizes there is a great
zeal to be done before the associations
begin to reap the highest benefits from
their organizations. l.s
1T has only been In the last few
years, said DIR. Wilcox, that the
farmer has awakened to what he can
do by organizing. In the three states
Ivisited was astonished to see the
thoroughness with which they have
taken up the cooperation idea, and
the success already resulting from it.
In Oregon there are dozens of such
bodies. In every possible thing they
cooperate selling their products,
in buying for their. farms or homes.
Even IN their religion they cooperate.
found some communities where the
farmers had decided to forget the fine
points OF their doctrines. They start.
ca cooperative church. doing away.
with the others i ~
Must Grade Products
There IS one thing almost uniyer.
sally insisted upon that. is grading
their products And that, 10 the thing
which must be driven home to the pro
ducers here. 1t Is of the utmost inn.
poftance. About the first thing a Co.
operative body does in Oregon after
Its organization is TO start d calming
factory. and their next step is to make
q name for their canned goods. They
do that, In one way, BY grading their
products. and the consumer soon
learns that he can rely upon any goods
turned out by the cannery being up.
to its standard.
The value of grading is not fully
appreciated here. A farmer sends in
sweet potato as sample, and q pur.
chase Is made on the basis of the
sample; but when the potatoes arrive
there are found to be several grades.
The buyer either refuses to take Them.
or he resolves not to buy any moro
from the farmer Oregon went through
that same experience with her farm.
ers, but now they have been taught
their lesson and recognize the value CT
grading. -.
The iuea of a cooperative associa,
ton Is for the farmer to get the best
price for his products, not by holding
UP the consumer, but by eliminating a
great deal of the intermediate cost, be,
fore they reach him, and also by feed.
Ing the market according to its de-
Tand, rather than dumping seasons
output on the market in a few weeks,
and leaving it to take care of itself
for the rest of the time.
Manipulation Barred ....-.g..
Take In Iowa where the great
cheese cooperative association is To-
Gated. They have their own cold,
storage plant where the cheese can be
kept when the market is not in need
OF It In some months great deal
more cheese is manufactured than is
needed, while In others the demand
is greater than the output. The asso.
citation works to equalize the price OF
the cheese by seeing that the mar
ket is not crowded with it at any
time, or short of it. As consequence,
the producer gets more for his cheese
taken the year around, and the con.
sumner gets it at fair, even price. In
other words the manipulation is kept
out. 81 b. Be- e. .- ....... :.