The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-04-09
Coz Operative Farm
Products Marketing
How IL Is Done In Europe and May Be Done
tn America TO the Profit of Both
Farmer and Consumer
HOW THE GERMAN FARMER SELLS HIS BUTTER IN THE cv1lEs
ny MATTHEW 8. pupoEoN,

Berlin. Germany.-Herc in Germany
the farmer successfully sells his prod.
uct direct to the city retailer while In
America II Is almost impossible for the
farmer to get into the city. In fact
American cities are practically quaran.
tined against the farmer 80 far as
selling direct Is concerned.
THE farmer who tries 10 sell his
product In the city Ia up against IT,"
said the president OF a New York cor.
poration. At the suggestion OF one OF
our officers we Inst year raised a
small lot u very fine potatoes on some
OF our vacant lands. We thought we
were business men but selling those
potatoes was o much for US. We
found that the retailers had contracts
with jobbers 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 o make a contract with
anyone who could not furnish all that
they might need during the year,
"In fact no one In the whole city
wanted our potatoes. We were com
PEELED TO practically give them away.
1t opened u eyes. We know now
what the farmer is up against in the
city markets when he has anything 10
sell. The farmer a no longer sell
n product without going from house
10 house rs a peddler. As business Is
now conducted his situation Is hope
less. II seem TO me that It is cooper.
alive 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 fine
peaches in the usual way expecting
big returns, When the final settle.
ment arrived he took II home so that
his wife and children who had helped
with the work might enjoy 10 with
him. When no opened the envelope he
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: Il
think we are fortunate indeed n view
OF all the circumstances. To find that
no liability stands against US. II you
will send US your draft for $50 this
Will close the account and NJ further
liability will attach To you Finally
II soaked In that the result OF the en-.
tire year was a loss Of $50.
But he possessed himself In pa
thence and thought IL all over. From
inquiry no learned that while retail
prices were good. the peaches had
passed through tho hands OF six q
eight persons each OF whom had taken
out n profit. No one person had robbed
him. No one had been dishonest. NJ
m had made excessive profits Eacl
n had simply looked out for himself
The farmer had been fool enough no
TO do the same thing.
Farmer Tries TO Sell Direct.
The next year at the opening OF III,
season the grower went 10 the Denye.
retailer who had handled his product
lie was glad to find that his peache.
OF the previous season had arrived II
good shape. had been readily sold, AM
had brought a good price. The deale
said he would be glad indeed 10 han
die his peaches again II possible. Thel
the grower demonstrated with pcnci
and paper that tho grower by scllinI
directly TO the retailer would doubl
his own return. double the retailer
profit and still leave ample margin 70
all expenses intervening. The retaile
gave a respectful hearing but slowl
shook his head. Nothing doing" h
said. IF ! buy my peaches direct
from you the wholesalers WI. sugges
that I buy my %pineapples and banana
OF you too. ! tried II once. II did no
take them'lon TO get wise. was II
formed that II ! ever did that again
would not be able to buy any fruit I
the city. You can't blame them 10
they think they are protecting theI
business In the only possible way.
Inquiries OF retailers In other part
OF the city brought the same answe
II was absolutely impossible for I'll
grower to market his fruit In the cit
OF Den ger.