The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-11-13
OVER HALF OF APPLE CROP
HAS BEEN SHIPPED

A re-check of the northwests 1914
apple crop, completed by the North
Pacific Fruit Distributors this week,
together with record of shipments
from all of the districts, furnished by
the railroads, reveals the important
fact that substantially one-half of the
commercial output of Oregon, Wash
ington, Idaho and Montana had been
shipped up to November /. This
showing, although a surprise to many
shippers, is regarded as accurate, in
view of the thorough investigation
which produced it.
Another feature with a vital bear
ing on the general market situation
for northwestern apples, brought out
by the Distributors mid-season can
vass, is that the total tonnage of the
northwest is almost $500 cars less
than estimated on September |, when
it was announced, after an itemized
count, covering every district, that the
commercial production would be a
little over 1880 cars. In this CON
nection it will be recalled that the
September | figure was approximately
10000 less than the usual blossom per-
iod forecast
Never before were shipments from
the northwest so heavy or so punched
during the fore part of the season as
| this year. The weather was largely
responsible for this condition. An
unusually protracted warm spell pre-
ceded picking time and apidly-ripened
the early varieties, forcing them onto
the markets in hurry. 1t also pre-
vented the fruit from being stored and
compelled its immediate sale upon ar
rival in eastern markets. incidentally,
the quantity Of shipments reported as
| ripe and over-rlpe was unprecendent-
ed. For that reason the early varie-
ties from the northwest went into con-
sumption almost at once and are prac-
tically off the markets right now.
On the other hand, only one-half, BY
few cars more or less, of the total
tonnage remains to be shipped, and it
| is estimated that advance orders for
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
| before In fact, in some of the larger
cities it has been tripled. Apple Week
and Apple Day in the four northwest
ern states proved to be an unexpected
impetus to the "buy-a- apples"
movement which is being vigorously
pushed at home this season with the
most satisfactory results.
The four Northwestern states of
Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Mon
tana have a combined population of
approximately three million people,
who will absorb a material portion of
the balance of the late tonnage, al
though the Pacific Coast cities of Spo-
kane, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Van
c.ouver, Victoria, San Francisco and
Los Angels with a population of just
| about two million people will be the
more important factors in this con-
sumption.
Upon inquiry among the shipping
organizations it has been ascretained
that quite a quantity of the varieties
now being harvested will be held for
export to the Philippines, Australia,
| Hawaii, and South America and that
heavy shipments will go through the
Panama Canal.
1t is evident at this time that the
tonnage still to go east is now here
near the amount previously anticipat-
ed A very substantial portion of the
apples now being placed in storage in
the northwest are being held for late
spring sales, according to the state
ments made by the shipping organiza-
tons, whose intention in many instan-
ces is not to release them until as late
as March and April.
The railroads declare that apple
shipments from the northwest have
very noticeably decreased during the
last few days. This condition, coupled
with the assertions of the shippers, II.
dicat. that future shipments will l't
more largely confined to +. o. b. order:
and ,astc:n cold s. rage and thnt -
foo of lamp cars hich MARRIED t; ,
early Fart the Sc soc has PRACTICAL,
CcaS' d.