The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-12-30
BUSINESS MEN
TO BACK BERRY
MARKETING PLAN
Merchants Go on Record Favor
ing Marketing Entire Crop
Through One Channel
PLEDGESUPPORTTO GROWERS
Movement Started to Crystalize Sem
timent for Cooperative Sell
ing of Strawberries

For the purpose of investigating
the possibilities of marketing all of
next years strawberry crop under one
control and thru one agency, meet
ing of the business and professional
men of the city was held in the Com
mercial club rooms Tuesday evening.
L. E. Johnson presided over the meet
ing as chairman and E. w. Trenbath
was chosen secretary.
In stating the purposes of the meet
ing Mr.. Johnson called attention to
the experience of past seasons when
the market for Kennewick strawber-
ries has been more or less demoral-
lied because of the lack of organiza-
tion among the producers. He said
every year thousands of dollars were
lost to the growers not because of
competition from other districts
but for the reason that the local ber-
ries were sold thru several distinct
and competitive channels with no con-
troll over prices. In the past not only
have the growers not been united but
the business interests have been divid-
ed in their support of rival organiza-
tions.
Mr.. Johnson emphasized the fact
that it was not the intention of any
Of the business men to become active
participants in any marketing organ
ization but the primary object of the
present effort is to line up the busi-
ness interests unanimously behind
some one organization. He stated that
he considered it impractical to use any
Of the existing marketing agencies
as q nucleus upon which to build but
that an entirely new organization
must be worked out. The first step in
such a plan of organization, he said,
was to crystalize the sentiment of the
entire community in favor of the CO.
operative marketing idea.
The idea back of the movement is
to give the cooperative marketing
plan thoro tryout for one season us
ing only the strawberry crop, no at
tempt being made to handle any OF
the other products. If the plan sue
ceeds the growers can then take what
ever steps seem advisable to continue
or to enlarge the organization.
About fifty business and profession
al men were present at the meeting
and number of them entered freely
into the discussion. There was some
difference Of opinion as to the best
plan of organization but sentiment II
favor of one marketing channel for all
of the Kennewick and Richland straw.
berries was practically unanimous. Ir
order that this sentiment might be
given definite expression an agree
ment was circulated and signed by al
but two or three of those present. The
agreement pledges the undivided sup
port of the business and professional
men of Kennewick to any organiza-
ton that might be effected to contro
and market at least 85 per cent of the
strawberry crop of the Kennewick-
Richland district. No attempt was
made to set forth or endorse any plar
of organization, it being understood
that the details of the organization be
left to the growers themselves.
For the purpose of further circulat.
ing this agreement and of giving ev'
cry business and professional man az
opportunity to sign it, Lee M. Lamp
son, M. M. Moulton and A. r. Gardner
were appointed to circulate the agree
ment, to confer with the managers OF
the present marketing agencies and tt
report at another meeting to be helt
this evening.
At this meeting it will be decided
as to what is the next step. If it ap
pears that the business interests OF
the town are willing to pledge then
support to new organization, a joint
meeting of the growers and the busi
ness men will probably be called fol
the purpose of ascertaining the view:
OF the growers. If 85 per cent OF the