Charlevoix county herald., 1913-10-04
GRAND RAPIDS HAS EX.
HIBIT OF OREGON APPLES

Make the apple as popular as the
orange In Grand Rapids and Kent
county Make the pc ople demand it
and make them demand only the best.
That is the campaign which j. H.
Skinner, the county agricuturist, has
outlined for the near future and when
his plans are ready he will push them
with his customary vigor
The campaign is brought to mind by
the fact that Oregon has right here in
Grand Rapids today in the Lincoln club
rooms and in the heart of the greatest
fruit district in the world, an exhibition
of apples. The show is twofold in its
intent. First to popularize the Oregon
apple and next to interest persons into
going into Oregon to raise apples. And
Oregon apple are held by Mr. Skinner
and other experts to be inferior to
Michigan apples. Wherever Michigan
apples have been shown, they have
won the prizes and commendation of
everybody. Yet right here in the great
fruit belt of Michigan where the finest
apples in the world are raised, Oregon
finds field for pushing her product,
More than this. A large percentage
of the good eating apples consumed in
Grand Rapids and in Michigan are
Oregon apples. More than this still,
a large percentage of the Michigan ap-
Piles, practically all of them, which are
consumed in Michigan are between Sc
conds and cider apples. Almost none
OF the best apple raised in the state
are sold here.
That is what has aroused the ire of
Skinner, Why buy Oregon apples, he
says when better apples are raised
right here at home and ought to be
not only better but cheaper. The an
swer he gives to the question is that
first, Michigan growers do not take the
trouble in packing apples that the
growers of Oregon do. Second, the
commission men of Grand Rapids will
not pay the price for Michigan apples
which will popularize them in the
Michigan market.
Now Skinner proposes to advertise
the apple and to popularize the Mich
igan apple. He hopes before long to
bring here U. Grant Border of Balti-
more, one of the foremost apple ex-
perts in the world. He wants to adver-
tise the apple, to let the people know
of its food value, as well as its delights
of flavor, and to make a market for the
Michigan apple. He wants to educate
the people of Grand Rapids to eat and
cook Michigan apples and to demand
only the choicest varieties of Michigan
apples and refuse to take seconds and
cider varieties which they now get. He
wants to drive these from the local
markets and fill the markets instead
with fine apples which Michigan grows
and ships away.
"What has made the market for the
orange" he asks, publicity, advertis-
ing, teaching the people what can be
done with oranges until everybody
thinks he ought to have oranges on the
table and in some form at breakfast
time. Why, the food value OF the apple
is unknown. The methods for cooking
it into the most delicious dishes are un-
known. Any housewife can well afford
to study and make use of recipes for
oDpIoc II will hriuu health and hapDi-
ness. Every boy needs an apple just
as often as his dad needs smoke. II
every boy had an apple in his lunch
basket when he went to school, every
boy would be healthier for it. And it
ought to be Michigan apple. They
are the best in the world. They should
be had at a cheaper price than any
other. 1t is disgrace that Oregon can
find place for displaying its apples
here in Grand Rapids"