The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-11
FL0RIDA'S BIG PROBLEM

TIE really great problem that con-
fronts Florida today is that of prop
erly marketing her products, and
particularly her citrus fruits. A
Florida enthusiast, now in another
State. writes The Metropolis as fol-
lows:
''Why can't the newspapers of
Florida begin a campaign of educa-
tion to get concert of action on the
part OF all Florida growers in
marketing their citrus fruits? The
Florida citrus crop of 1915 is now
being seriously injured in this sec
tion by the shipment of green fruit.
This city has always been one of
Florida's best customers, and its
consumption Of citrus fruits will
! average around half car load
day. 1t ought to be consuming twice,
three or four times that much Flor
ida fruit, and would be If there was
concert of action and a central
shipping body in Florida which
could absolutely control the ship
ments of fruit, and the quality of
fruit.
This city has been taking Cali
fornia fruit until such a time as
Florida fruit would come in. Then,
when the first shipments came, the
fruit was green and entirely unfit
bought some fruit this week that
was green and wholly unfit for any
thing unless it might be to make
oran seade, which might be obtained
by using as much sugar as is used
in lemonade. and, indeed, that is
the way and the only way the or
anges could be used.
Yesterday car of Florida fruit
was turned back on the shippers not
only because it was poor pack,
and unripe fruit, but because the
market has been so badly damaged
by the first shipments of green fruits
that the people say in general accord
i We'll wait until the fruit is ripe,
and until we can be sure of getting
good fruit
I'm the meantime the dealers who
have stocked up on the early ship
ments have large supply of fruit
on hand, much Of which they will
lose, and every orange that is sold
goes out as knock on Florida, and
is stone in the way of a better
market later on"
There have been so many com.
plants from various sections of the
country, of premature shipments
and poor fruit, that 1t would appear
that the matter has become most ur
gent for Florida growers to get to
gether. and form an organization foI
the purpose Of protecting them
, selves, or for the purpose of bring
ing about closer harmony anon
all srowers of the State, who ar
vitality interested not only in con
sumption, but also In the price O
fruit.
A. any competitive point, wher
Florida and California fruits cal
meet on anything like competitiv
basis, there is no question as to tn
favorite fruit, and the one tina
would win public favor, and there
fore bring the most attractive pric
to the grower. Florida is really with
out competitor outside of her owl
u borders. but in Florida, as the situa
ton exists today, Florida has he
citrus fruits distributed by variou
groups of shippers, and everybod
scurrying to get on the market first
expecting thereby to get the creaI
of the prices, and unload their frui
early. The actual working out G
the proposition results in the maj
ket being demoralized, in carload
e being turned back because of gree
= fruit, and losses to growers as a RI
r suit Of poor fruit, that cut dow
: isolated high prices, so that til
o average is far below what all woul
l. have received on all shipments ha
r the market been handled properl
If and the fruit well-matured and ril
It ened, and properly packed and shil
" ped.
ii Take your own case for example
Suppose your milkman has a hab
d of giving you sour milk, and of d
lie ing his delivery in sloppy, desu
10 tory manner How long would "
1t tory manner. How long won
in your grocer gave You bad flour al
1t poor coffee, and sugar full of sane
re How long would you buy from tn
lie grocer?
of That is an identical case with 4
e. shippers of bad fruit and poor fru
out of Florida. Every unripe, so
is orange; every poor piece of pc
n fruit is destroying a customer. al
of goodness knows, with a large or
as of young trees coming on. it b
as hoores Florida to cultivate and hui
IL up markets rather than destr
Sc those she already has.-Jackso
as willie Metropolis.
ty