The Monte Vista journal., 1915-11-06
A STUDY OF THE FOREIGN POTATO MARKETS
AS RELATED TO The SAN LUIS VALLEY CROP

does not put price on his own
goods,
This custom or plan which has
been forced upon the grower of farm
products is most unreasonable and
unfair, and in order for the farmers
to receive full value for their potato
crop and change the present system
of doing business. they should per-
feet their organization so that next
season the entire crop can be handled
by their own selling organization.
Even at this time the selling or
ganization is strong enough TO mark
ct the entire yield in this valley. and
If all the growers will pool their in
terests next year and agree to handle
the crop themselves through their
own organization and every man re-
ceive exactly the same price for his
potatoes during the entire season.
higher prices will be received for the
crop than by any other plan, and in
stead of the growers asking what
price will be paid for their potatoes.
the association will tell all buyers
just what car lots of potatoes will
cost them F. o. b.. Monte Vista.
A representative of the Associa-
tion will be in the outside markets
during the shipping season and as he
will be in close touch with foreign
conditions. can wire the Monte Vista
office every day giving the market
quotations, and a'so advise relative
to shipments so that the entire crop
can be handled for the best interests
of the growers.
By such plan all dealers and buy
ers can secure their supply of pota-
toes in car lots direct from the or
ganization at prices which will be
quoted by the Association based on
the foreign market value of the pro-
duct that day
There are very few articles of mer-
chandise that can be sold with profit
to the owner, except by personal ef-
forts. To try to do large volume
of business by telephone, telegraph
or correspondence will result in dis
appointment and loss, and this is true
of the potato business owing to the
absolute necessity of marketing fif-
teen hundred cars during the period
OF about one months time.
Early in the shipping season this
year low quotations were mailed
throughout the country on San Luis
Valley potatoes. and the prices were
so ridiculously low even with a re-
ported shortage of crop, that our
growers were compelled to sell
large part of their crop at an unprof-
liable price. The only serious
trouble over prices which encount-
cred on this trip was with the quo
tations sent out on our own potatoes
by foreign dealers However. with
the aid of a friendly selling organiz-
alton we soon realized that the San
Luis Valley crop was the only dis
trict making large shipments of ma
tured potatoes. and steady raise I'm
prices was commenced Mis-inform-
alton relative to prices and conditions
in other potato growing districts
circulate freely in every locality
during the past season, but through
parties who were friendly to our or
ganization, l was daily in touch with
the true conditions In Idaho, Western
Slope and Greeley.
The San Luis Valley has an enor-
nous territory to supply with DO
tatoes at time when the other dis
tricts are not making heavy ship
ments, and by controlling our ship
ments here the entire crop can be
delivered at the very highest market
prices.
Cooperation on the part of the
growers will not only result in prof
table prices every season for theri
potato crop, but will make II DOS
sible for an increased acreage to be
grown.
CARL b STOW.