The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-04-17
CO. Operative Farm
Products Marketing
HOtv Ii Is Done i'm Europe and May Be Done
i'm America to the Profit of Both
Farmer and Consumer

BY MATTHEW S. DuDeEoN.

D6Tilu, III oSA many
the farmer successfully sells his prod
uct direct to the city retailer while in
America 1t Is almost impossible for the
farmer to get into the city. In fact
American cities are practically quaran-
tined against the farmer SO far as
selling direct Is concerned.
THE farmer who tries to sell his
product in the city is up against it"
said the president of New York cor I
poration. At the suggestion of one OF
our officers we last year raised a |
small lot of very fine potatoes on some
of our vacant lands. We thought we
were business men but selling those
potatoes was too much for us. We
found that the retailers had contracts
with iobbers for their years supply.
The jobbers and wholesalers were
shipping in their potatoes in carload
lots and they did not care for the few
bushels we had. Even the hotels had
either bargained for their years sup
ply or would not make contract with
anyone who could not furnish all that
they might need during the year
ssIn fact no one in the whole city
wanted our potatoes. We We're COM
PEELED to practically give them away.
1t opened our eyes. We know now
what the farmer is up against in the
city markets when he has anything to
sell. The farmer can no longer sell
product without going from house
to house as peddler. As business IS
| now conducted his situation is hope
less. 1t seems to me that it is cooper
| ative marketing or nothing for the FAR
! mer."
Colorado Peach Grower Has Trouble.
Nowhere on earth do they raise bet
ter peaches than in Colorado. Recent
ly in an exceptionally good year one
| grower marketed 10000 boxes OF hne
peaches in the usual way expecting
big returns. When the final settie'
ment arrived he took it home SO that
his wife and children who had helpea
with the work might enjoy it with
j him. When he opened the envelope ne
found first a long and detailed state
ment which he did not fully compre
bend. But turning to the accompany
ing letter he read this paragraph: =
think we are fortunate indeed, IN vie"
| OF all the circumstances, to md ina
no liability stands against US. i yot
will send us your draft for sou TINS
will close the account and no furtnel
liability will attach to YOU Flnali.
II soaked in that the result OF the en-
tire year was loss OF 500.
But he possessed himself In pa
tience and thought it all over From
inquiry he learned that while retai
! fhn
passed through the hands OF SIX
eight persons each of whom mad takel
out profit. No one person had roppe
him. No one had been dishonest n
one had made excessive profits. Fac
one had simply looked out Tor himsel
The farmer had been fool enough nc
to do the same thing.
| Farmer Tries to Sell Direct.
The next year at the opening OF tn
season the grower went 10 the LEW l.''s
4 retailer who had handled ms prouuc
He was glad to find that ms peach.
| of the previous season mad arriVeo
good shape, had been readily Sold al
had brought a good price. Inc dear
soid he would be glad indeed 10 ma
Il ale his peaches again if possible. Inc
| tba grower demonstrated Win penn
and paper that the grower by sellii
/ directly to the retailer would douD
II his own return, double the retainer
Il nrofit and still leave ample margin !. I
]. ali expenses intervening. The retall
gave a respectful hearing put SLOW
: shook his head. Nothing dolns'
: said. IF / buy my peaches direcl
from YOU the wholesalers VIII susse
that / buy my pineapples ana pa.aE
a ~ Won too. l tried it once II olo
. talte them long to get wise. ! was
81 formed that if I ever did that agar
g would not be able to buy any 1rult
ny tba city. You can't blame tnein
hs thew think they are protecting IN
s il business in the only possible wa.
Y. INQUIRIES of retailers in otnef pa
a. Of the city brought the same answ
Is, r. was absolutely impossible lor
IS grower to market his fruit IN the :
= sf Denver