The Delta independent., 1915-03-05

partment occupies about $4,000 square
feet of floor space. This is one of the
most profitable lines of our business
and this part of the plant is built and
equipped especially for dried prunes
We not only handle the output of our
own dryer but that of a dozen others
in the territory, belonging to our mem
bers.
In 1913 we packed a million and
half pounds of prunes, about forty
cars. Our cider plant, has a capacity
of 5000 gallons day. The plant is
equipped with evaporator and pasteur-
izer for handling sweet cider, and gen.
orators for the vinegar. So far we have
been able to supply the home market
only for these articles. We manufac-
ture lime-sulphur spray for our mem
bers making from 300 to 500 barrels
season. Our box department is equip
ped with mailing machines, sender.
printing press and stapling machines.
We necessarily must have a number
of trained workmen ad these men we
attempt to keep busy as nearly all the
year round as possible. During our
slack season-from January to May
we manufacture spray, vinegar and
boxes, overhaul our machinery and
make whatever improvements are nee
essary. Our plant as it stands was not
built in year as one department was
added at time. When this was thor
oughly assimilated and put on a pay
ing basis, another was taken up. Each
department must pay its own way for
we carry no dead weight. We packed
a total of 2,091,OOO pounds of fruit
and vegetables at the Eugene plant
and 10000 pounds at Junction City in
1914.
We also packed a quarter of mil
lion pounds of dried prunes and ship
ped few cars of apples. The prune
crop was very short one with us the
last year We handled twenty-four diff
ferent varieties of fruit and vegetables
the past season and put it out in some
thing like eighty different styles and
grades. The commercial packer would
question the wisdom of handling so
many varieties and from his stand
point in many cases, ii would not pay.
Here lies the difference between the
cooperative and the privately owned
plant We take what the grower has
to offer just so long as we are sure 1t
will sell for enough to pay cost OF
manufacture. The fruit remains the
property of the grower. When sold
we deduct the cost of manufacture and
sale, giving the grower what Is left.
Thus he is the judge whether any
particular crop pays. and knows he is
getting all there is in it. Each deliv-
cry of fruit is graded when received
and each goes into a pool Of its own.
We are able to direct the planting
so as to have a continuous supply
during the packing season without,
serious gluts. which makes for econ
omy of output. We make the price
at which the fresh fruit is sold in our
city. At the beginning this caused
considerable complaint on the part Of
the grocerymen, but in practice they
have found that they are benefited
by the arrangement, as we make the
same price to all. notifying them the
day before prices are to be changed.
During the past summer we were get
ting S150 a crate for Strawberries
when unorganized districts-not fifty
miles distant-were getting only eighty
cents. We insist on fair price being
paid the fruit grower, we work in har-
mony with wholesalers and commits
sion men of our home town. but we
insist that they do business on the
square,. o. Holt.
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