The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-11-12
FRUIT SHIPMENTS
HAVE BEEN HEAVY

A recheck of the northwest's 1914
apple crop, completed by the North
I Pacific Fruit Distributors this week to-
/ gether with a record of shipments from
ali of the districts, furnished by the
railroads, reveals the important fact
that substantially one half of the COM
mercial output of Oregon, Washington,
| Idaho and Montana had been shipped uI
to November /. This showing, al
though a surprise to many shippers, il
regarded as accurate, in view Of the
thorough investigation which produced
| it.
Another feature with vital bearing
on the general market situation fol
northwestern apples, brought out BY
| the Distributors mid-season canvass, Il
that the total tonnage of the northwest
| is almost 800 ears less than estimated
on September l,wben il was announced,
after an itemized count, covering every
district, that the commercial produc'
ton would be little over $500 cars.
In this connection it will be recalled
that the September l figure was ap'
proximately 10000 cars less than the
usual blossom period forecast.
Never before were shipments from
the northwest so heavy or so punched
during the fore part of the season al
this year. The weather was largey
responsible for this condition. An un'
usually protracted warm spell preceded
picking time and rapidly ripened the
early varieties, forcing them onto the
/ 80 -. . oil nFauanflr
the fruit from being stored and com
pelled its immediate sale upon arriva
IN eastern markets. Incidentally, the
quantity of shipments reported as ripe
and overripe was unprecedented. Fol
that reason the early varieties from the
northwest went into consumption al
most at once and are practically off the
markets right now.
On the other hand, only one half, by
few cars, more or less, of the tota
tonnage remains to be shipped. and II
is estimated that advance orders fol-
over 1000 cars of the late varieties
have been booked by the various ship
ping agencies.
Apple consumption on the Pacific
coast is greater this year than ever be-
fore. In fact, in some of the larger
cities it has been tripled. Apple week
and apple day in the four northwestern
states proved to be an unexpected i'm
petus to the buy a box of apples
movement which is being vigorously
pushed at home this season with the
most satisfactory results.
The four northwestern states OF Ore
gon, Washington, Idaho and Montans
have a combined population of approx
mately three million people who viii
absorb a material portion of the bal
ance of the late tonnage, although ths
Pacific coast cities of Spokane, Tacoma
Portland, Vancouver, San francisco
and Los Angeles with population o.
Just about two million people will b'
the more important factors IN this con
sumption.
Upon inquiry among the shipping or
carnations it has been ascertainet
that quite quantity of the varieties
now being harvested will be held TO
export to the Philippines, Australia
Hawaii and South America apd tina
heavy shipments will go through th
Panama canal.
1t is evident at this time that th
tonnage still to go east is nowhere nea
the amount previously anticipated. 4
very substantial portion of the apple
now being placed in storage in th
Northwest are being held for lat
spring sales, according to the state
ments made by the shipping organizs
tions. whose intention in many In
stances is not to release them until q
late as March and April.
The railroads declare that apple shiE
ments from the northwest have yer
noticeably decreased during the las
few days. This condition, coupled wit
the assertions of the shippers, indicat
that future shipments will be NOR
largely confined to f. o. b. orders an
eastern cold storage and that the foo
of tramp cars which marked the earl
part of the season has PRACTICAL
aaoaa1