Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-05-01

Berlin. Germany.-Here in Germany |
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 Il"
said the president of New York cor
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 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 not 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 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
q product without going from house
to house as a peddler. AS business is
now conducted his situation Is hope
less. It seems to me that II 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
- 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 1t with
him. When he 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, in view
Of ali the circumstances, to find that
no liability stands against u.s. II you
will send US your draft for $50 this
will close the account and no further
liability will attach to you" Finally
II soaked In that the result of the en-
tire year was a loss of $50 He waG
out all his work. all the expense Of
handling the fruit, all the interest
charges upon his very considerable in
yestment; he was out $50 in cash and
there was not cent to show for IL
From beginning to end there had beer
no complaint about his fruit. II wal
, good fruit, had been well raised. vel
picked, well boxed, well cared for, vel
shipped, but there was no escape from
!. / the fact that all had gone for moth
!, ing. He paid $50 for the privilege o
working hard for one long year.
But he possessed himself in pm
: tisnce and thought II ali over. From
inquiry he learned that while retail
:. prices were good. the peaches had
: passed through the hands Of ak q
eight persons each OF whom had taker
out = profit. No one person had rcbbet
: him. No one had been dishonest. Nj
one had made excessive profits. Eacl
one had amply looked out for himself
The farmer had been fool enough no
to do the same thing.
. Farmer Tries 70 Sell Direct
'. The next year at the opening Of tn
Ie season the grower went 20 the Denye
:. retailer who had handled his product
le He was glad to End that his peache
Of the previous season had arrived 1
good shape. had been readily sold. an
had brought : good price. The deale
n said he would be glad indeed TO haT
q die his peaches again II possible. The
:, the grower demonstrated with penc
i and paper that the grower by sellin
directly TO the retailer would doubi
his own return. double the retaissF'
profit and still leave ample margin fo
all expenses intervening. The retaile
gave q respectful hearing but slowl
shook his head Nothing doing b
said. IF buy my peaches direct
- NAN you the wholesalers will snggel
~ that buy my pineapples and banana
OF you too tried 1t once. II did NJ
take them long 10 get wise. Was 4
formed that II ever did that again
Ie' would not be able TO buy any fruit
y the city. You can't blame them 4
fe they think they are protecting the
70 business in the only possible way
Inquiries OF retailers in other par
Of the city brought the same answe
Il vas absolutely impossible for Il
10 grower 20 market his fruit In the eli
ne 81 Denver.
as Bayfield,. VIA. Is in the midst OF
o. neu fruit country. There they ha'
! high-grade OF cherries. straWberri'