The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-01-07
EXCHANGE SELLS LAST
OF NINTY CARLOADS

son" says Kenneth Mckay. manager
OF the Exchange, 'all of which were
sold at 4. o. b. prices with the excep-
tlon of five cars, which were soft vari-
cites, and would not keep.
We hear a great deal about market.
ing just now, about largest returns,
etc, but as none of these statements
made by anyone are backed by actual
hgures, we can only assume that they
are correct, until substantiated by hard
facts.
"a thing that has surprised me be-
yond all measure is that while We
nachee and Yakima are in the throes of
revolution, and clamoring after ways
and means to better marketing condi-
tions, the Hood River grower is still in
state of listless apathy. Why? Are
the Hood River growers so prosperous,
so we'll pleased with existing condi-
tions that they do not need to stir
themselves?
"Are we going to sleep, while other
competitive districts find themselves
and work out their problems, or are we
going to meet the situation facing US
with taut nerves, with steadfast reso-
luton to fight for their our own rights,
and perfect as near as possible the end
which will mean to US every attainable
cent for the fruits of our labor.
Hood Rivers boast is that she prac-
tically launched the box apple of the
northwest. Are We going to live on
that forever, resting on laurels of the
past, which, however, will not help the
future, or are we going to concentrate
the powers we have into a solid body,
which will drive the wedge of prosper
ity home to the growers of Hood River.
"a successful venture never stands
still-no matter how near perfection il
is-it is never perfection itself-and
we of Hood River should be fully alive
to the situation as it progresses.
I'VE must admit that marketing con-
ditions and prices have changed in the
last few years; have we met these con-
ditions half way by cutting down at
our end? Prices have cut down. Have
we cut down? Decidedly not. 1t is
costing us as much today to place our
apples to the consumer, or possibly
more, than it did four or five years ago,
when we could perhaps afford to slight
economy.
''The trouble is not with the market,
it is with US. The market has reached
the sane, reasonable basis that was
predicted years ago by men who fore
saw the coming increase in the produc-
tion of the northwest apple.
ut then only remains with US to
concentrate our full energy now on
cutting the cost. We can cut the cost
in our orchards, we can cut the cost of
our package, we can cut the cost of
marketing, at the same time market
ing through the up to date, thoroughly
efficient and experienced business SELL
ing organizations which we have today
in the northwest, who only sell US their
services, which, if not absolutely full
of results to the grower can be dis
pensed with year by year.
Take the Fruit Growers Exchange.
While we are shipping through the
Northwestern Fruit Exchange this
year, we are absolutely independent of
any concern and can sell our fruits next
year. or any other year, through what
ever channels appear the most bene
fetal to US. Despite the fact that the
Fruit Growers Exchange started BUSH
ness late last year, and has worked
throughout under serious handicaps,
believe our returns will not cause our
members any regret that they shipped
with us, and we hope this years exper-
ience will prove invaluable to us. so
that next year when we have better
handling facilities throughout the val
ley, and in Hood River, we will know
Just how to avoid mistakes (which are
rather expensive luxuries and affect the
grower vitality and work out our policy
of strict economy coupled with the
highest efficiency.
81 am glad to say that our members
have stood Loyalty by the Exchange,
which, of course, is only natural, as it
is their own Exchange, is their servant,
and is selling its services to the men,
bers, which, if they are not worth the
consideration paid, can be, and will be,
disposed of at any time.
"Whie we are small, having only so
members this yaer, we are perfectly
willing to remain small. In fact,
would rather see our organization a
small one, but strong one strong for
the members, strong for quality of
fruit, and strong for the highest etfi-
cheney that will bring our members ul-
innate results, than develop into a
large shiftless organization, with only
tonnage as our object.
"Mosier has a small organization,
which, while it is shipping with the
same agency as ourselves this year,
will, | believe, average higher returns
than US, or for that matter, higher than
any organization or independent shipper
in Hood River. Why is that? Simply
that there is body of men at Mosier,
who, working in perfect harmony
amongst themselves to attain the same
end, have concentrated their whole
powers to establish a standard pack,
an economic jurisdiction, and so turn
out a high class article at minimum
cost.
"I have desire to 60 further into
the cost of production, particularly in
regard to our c grade package. The
day of marketing them at the expense
of the past methods are over, and it
only remains to work out the most in
telligent and cheapest package to carry
this grade of fruit to the consumer at
profit to the grower.
AZ have also desire to establish a
few community packing houses through
out the valley, under the management
of the Exchange, with their usual eco
nomic policy, which will handle for our
members their fruit in a thoroughly
efficient, systematic manner. And here
is a method which will do away with
the dishonest pack, which will creep in
once in while, despite most rigid in
spection of packed boxes,s and which
will insure the honest man that he is
not taking the chance of Rdeterioratiug
his returns, by shipping with sloven'
ly. dishonest pack.
"These matters | expect to go into
later, when | learn fully the sentiment
of our members"