The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-03-05
PRODUCTS IN
THE NORTHWEST

A dispatch from Seattle says: The
growing demand for Florida's fruit /
and produce, with the convenience af-
forded by the difference in seasons
with California, is gradually working /
changed conditions in this market. /
The Seattle market has reached
stage where fruit and produce staples
are in demand every day in the year,
and if California cannot supply them,
buyers look to Florida, Cuba or else
where, and with increasing good re-
suits.
The expansion of the Florida grape
fruit industry, and the demand, which
has grown by leaps and bounds in the
past two or three years, has been the
basis of interest in Florida offerings.
A superior article has been shown, and
| the low prices that have prevailed
this year have enabled jobbers to
place it indirectly into hundreds of
homes to which it has heretofore
been a stranger. The carload sales
of the fruit this year have broken the
record, and Florida grapefruit has
become fixed staple here on almost
| as broad a scale as the orange.
1t is predicted now that it will not
be long until Florida oranges will be
| brought here in carload lots. In
quiries are now being made by Seat
tie jobbers for Florida pineapples,
and indications now point to the re-
ceipt of carload this season. A
carload of Florida tomatoes and new
spuds is on the way here. Jobbers
have found that there is, as matter
of fact, little of the staple line fur
nished from California that cannot be
duplicated, quality and price basis, in
Florida, and the growth of this bust
ness is being recognized by both
brokers and jobbers.
The greatest handicap to date il
the spread of the Florida staples over
the north coast markets is the time
required to bring stock in, but job
bers are convinced that by properly
laying the subject before the trans
portation lines a fast freight servic'
closely approaching that of the ex
press could be arranged.
Charles G.. Chisholm, general agen
N of the Southern Pacific, who is con
stantly studying the Florida situa
ton as regards this market, sai'
\ that by showing the Southern lines
whose time is slow, that it would b
5 of advantage to route fruit and pro
! duce from Florida so that the car
u could catch the banana trains on
of New Orleans on Monday, severa
days' time could be saved, and Flor
ii ida products laid down in Seattl
within twelve or thirteen days of tn
time of leaving Florida shipping
points. Southern lines are most In
terested in developing the resource
of their territory" said Mr.. CHS
holm, "and they would undoubtedl
act quickly when the Importance Q
fast time as it is related TO gettin
stock into Seattle was laid befor
them"
The banana train is nine days o
y the road from New Orleans to Seat
tie. It should not require more tina
three or four days additional frol
Florida points to New Orleans.
For the season of 1913 to 1914, c
October to March, sixty-six carload
of Florida fruit and produce were RI
ceived on the Seattle market alon
This indicates, jobbers declare, I'll
big volume of business that is bein
done and the possibilities of the fl
ture. Besides, it is claimed, compel
ton would stimulate California shil
pers to be more careful as to I'll
quality of stock they send to tn
market.