The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-05-14
BURTON CRITICISES
EXCHANGE METHODS.

AT meeting held on SATURDAY,
May lst, the citrus fruit growers in
and about Leesburg formally with
drew from the Florida Citrus Ex-
change and organized the Leesburc
Citrus Growers Association, which is
to affiliate with the Lake County
Growers Association, and is to take
over the property of the Florida Ci-
trus Exchange and continue handling
the fruit of that section, or county,
and in a manner which it is hoped will
bring better prices. The marketing
of the fruit of the new association
will be in the hands of Mr.. R. P.
Burton, without doubt one of the
ablest men for this work in all Flori-
da.
In an interview with the Leesburg
Commercial of the 7th inst. Mr..
Burton says:
For six years large part of the
fruit in Lake County has been mar
keted through the Florida Citrus Ex-
change. heretofore the only growers
marketing organization in the State.
For five years the work of that ex-
cellent organization was constructive.
In Lake County alone splendid asso-
citation packing houses have been
erected and equipped at Tavares, Eus-
tbs, Umatilla, and Leesburg. These
four houses cost about $4,000. They
are down to the last minute in mod
ern equipment. Their brands have
steadily gained ground with the trade
and until the past season have been
profitable to the grower members un-
der the policy of the exchange Of
demanding more for these packs than
ordinary packs would bring. At the
opening Of the sixth seaon this poll
cy was reversed and these brands
were made to meet prices quoted for
less desirable packs that were put
out at much less expense.
This practise converted these mag
nifcent packing houses into q liability
instead Of an asset, hence we have
been in this county with unwarranted,
condition, viz: that OF
seeing spectators and other operators
paying from the opening TO the clos
ing Of the season more money per
box for fruit out of the organization
than the associated growers could net
under the new policy practised by
the Exchange. This condition forced
many growers to request a release or
the privilege Of selling to those who
are willing to buy at prices much in
excess Of those secured through the
association.
This new policy of the Exchange
which has proven so disastrous and +
,aused widespread dissatisfaction
throughout the State is due to 4
change in the management Of the
Exchange which has placed its desti-
ny in the hands of inexperienced ,
men whose purposes are good but who
really DO not know marketing Flori-
Ia citrus fr1its, This condition IS
.raceable TO internal discord in the
which has brought about
two factions in the board, due to q
great blurder in the corporation Of
The Florida Citrus Exchange, which
made the persons incorporating and
hose whom they might select from ,
lime TO time for their associates the
Florida Citrus Exchange. This gave
IN opening for political intrigue. K
"In Lake County the volume of
,ruit passing through the association
loIses during the season 1914-15 has
lot been sufficient to hold the pack
ng charges down to sufficiently low j
evel to justify operating them an
,ther season under the Exchange L
,ohcy of putting this fruit into COM L
'edtion on an equal basis with poorer (
ruit not nearly so well handled. S
"A contract under which they are q
gives assurances Of a COM