Imperial Valley press., 1915-02-18


packers have their own side of the
controversy, which is set forth in the
following from the Los Angeles Tx
aminer:
Unperturbed by indictments, suits
for accounting and suits for damages
under the Sherman antitrust act, al
leging them to constitute combina-
ton in restraint of trade, jo1bers who
are members of the Western Canta-
loupe Exchange and who are now in
Los Angeles attending the convention
Of the Western Fruit Jobbers' Asso-
ciation, declared yesterday that the
continued existence of the cantaloupe
industry of Imperial Valley depends
upon closer cooperation among the
Jobbers who handle the crop and an
noLnced their intention to ask the
federal government for permission TO
establish that closer cooperation.
'Those Of us who are here expect
to hold conference before we leave
Los Angeles" said }. S. Crutchfield.
OF Crutchfield d Voolfolk of Pitts
burg, president of the Western Can
taloupe Exchange, 'to inaugurate a
campaign on which the very life of
the industry will depend. We will
explain the situation to California
chambers of commerce, to bankers. to
the railroads, to the governor Of Cal
ifornia, and ask them to join us in
petitions to the Department of JUS
tlce and the Federal Trade Commits
sion to Indicate to us the limits to
which we may go in cooperation that
Will stabilize the industry and pro-
tect the growers, the shippers and the
consumers"
This declaration followed the filing
of suits in the United States district
court on behalf of an assignee of a
large number of japanese growers of
cantaloupes, alleging that the combi-
nation OF lobbers inflicted damages
amounting to $l,156,000 on them in
1917 and 1913, and claiming damages
to three times that amount, as pen
atty under the Sherman act. w. l..
Armstrong, president of the Western
Fruit Jobbers' Association: Edward
5. Armstrong, Charles +. Virden and
others of the defendants in these suits
are attending the convention.
Mr.. Crutchfield, speaking for his
associates in the cantaloupe exchange,
denied the allegations of the com
plants, and in an interview explained
why the peculiar conditions of the
handling of the cantaloupe crop of
Imperial Valley made close co-opera-
ton OF growers and iobbers impera-
tive.
up to the season Of 1911" said
Mr.. Crutchfield, "the industry was in
its infancy. That season between
1000 and 5000 acres in Imperial Val
ley were planted in cantaloupes.
There was no organization and the
result was disastrous to both grow
ers and iobbers, almost bankrupting
both parties.
"Peter p. Hovley of Brawley
largely interested in the industry, saw
that beth for the sake of the indus
try and to stabilize land values in
the vallev. something must be done.
He called the iobbers together in a
conference and the exchange was
formed.
Let me explain some of the haz-
ards Of this trade. The time varies
from season to season when the crop
Is ready for the market. Last wear
shipments began May II. Other sea
sons they have started as late as
June 10. Cantaloupes are not a ne
cessity, they're a luxury, and for sev-
en- or eight months none are in the
market and people get out of the habit
CT eatln" them. The Imperial Valley
crop comes on with a rush, and is
likely to glut the market before the
public gets the habit again. Before
the first carload has reached New
York thousand are on the way.
"Ripening in the peculiar conditions
of Imperial Valley, their cantaIoupes
must he picked with the greatest care
A difference of six hours one way
or the other in picking them will
destroy their quality. Six hours too
soon and they are not fit for fodder,
six hours too late and they are too
ripe to stand shipment. Again, they
must be just little ripper if they are
to be sent to Los Angeles or San
Francisco than if they are to 90 to
DenVer-and so on.
"They must be picked when they
arc ready, there is no holding them
back, but if this tremendous crop is
not marketed with best Judgment,
with careful distribution to various
markets, the result is disastrous. The
situation is not paralleled in any other
crop. We must he permitted 10
have closer co-operaton in that dis
trhution if the industry is to live.
"Ilerc is an important phase OF
that necessary cooperation. As !
said, when the first Imperial Valley
cantalGupes reach the market the con
sumer has lost the habit Of eating
them. II the weather in Nav on
June. is warm in the East, the de
mand for cantaloupes is strong, but
not if the weather is cold. The en-
tire crop comes along in from four
to six weeks and demard must bo ere.
atcd rapidly. Oar first shipments
are rushed to New York because they
will bring a fancy price, maybe from
$5 to 81 crate Now we must have
n cooperation that viii enable us to
distribute those first carloads
throughout the country even though
we get but $3.50 per crate for them
in western cities, for we must have
them in those markets 10 whet the
appetite of the public and have Inc
DeoDle ready to take them freely