The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-01-27
SOME GOOD ADVICE

CLEAN contemporary publications for
bits of advice that may be of benefit to
local growers and market men. We
recently published excerpts from an
article written by James n. Collins in
the Country Gentleman. In the Port
land Fruit and Produce Msrketer for
last week we read with interest an
article written by A. II. Harris. of the
Portland Telegram. Mr. Harris has
visited most of the Northwestern fruit
districts in the past year. His advice
is timely and sane. We give below ex-
cerpts from his suggestions and recon-.
mendations.
Mr.. Harris says: 1t has remained
for the fruit grower to maintain the
consignment abuse long after other
wise producers on the land have killed
off the consignment shark. 1t has be-
come part of the fruit game in the
places and stand off the banker who
loaned money to cover marketing ex
penses. With the most perishable
goods produced, the fruit grower con-
sents to delivery of his produce in
far away city, among strangers whose
one purpose is TO the consigned CON-
modities.
He demands that all his fruit be sold.
when he would be money ahead to
market only good fruit and allow culls
and inferior grades to go to the cider
mill or to rot in the orchard. He
sometimes pays fancy salaries to his
employees and then ties their hands by
lack of equipment and funds and by
rules and regulations until they cannot
perform the highest and best service.
And, finally, the small grower must
have ready money. and hence forces
his crop on the market when demoral-
izing conditions are being crystallized
by other men who do foolish things
like himself.
II cooperative selling is to be per-
manent and profitable among Oregon
horticulturists, a comprehensive plan
must be adopted. in my opinion. Over
head expense is too heavy in many
cases, under methods now employed, |
and results are not satisfactory to the
growers. On the whole, net prices re- |
ceived year after year. are low, except
in cases where large growers make the
most of market conditions. The small
grower sells direct, too often, in order
to get quick money and to avoid settle /
ments with commission houses which /
have made fortunes through question
able methods. Then, cooperative sell
ling is best for the large grower, while |
the small producer more or less demor-
allies the market for the entire output.
A cooperative scheme which does not
properly care for the small producer is
a failure, unless the plan is working to
centralize the control of orchard pro-
ducts.
| have made diligent effort to
gather facts as to the acreage of Or
chards and fruit tracts in Oregon, but
the best information available is
guess. In few counties of the state,
only, can the area of cultivated land be
gotten from assessment rolls, while the
rule is to assess land as "tllable"--
whatever the term means and mon
tillable' and timber lands" No
attempt has been made, ordinarily, by
assessors to gather facts as to the
acreage of apples, pears, peaches,
estimates made in the Oregon Almanac
and in boosting literature seem to be
based on assumption, and assumption
which serves the end sought. Growers
should at once gather accurate infor-
nation on acreage and condition of
orchards and preserve and facts for the
exclusive use of cooperative selling
agencies.
While visiting scores of towns in
Oregon | was struck by the absence of
apples on the markets and by the mis-
cradle packs and displays where apples
were offered for sale. The neglect of
local markets seems to be complete, /
outside Of Portland, where few |
stores maintain admirable displays of |,
fresh fruits and exercise salesmanship
in their disposal. In many towns only
inferior fruit was on sale and frequent /
iy it was "shopworn" and even dis
gusting. Oregon, as a field for the |
sale of Oregon fruit, is being neglected
while returns from Eastern markets !
are discouraging If not disastrous in ,
many cases.
In Oregon, outside of Portland there
are approximately 100 hotels and res
taurants. where meals are served the |
public. In Portland there are approx.
mately 700 hotels, grills, restaurants
and dining rooms. | have visited more |
than 100 eating places in Oregon re-
Gently, and only in few was | able to .
get service of apples or other Oregon
fruit from the ordinary menu card.
On the bills of grills and restaurants
oranges and bananas and timed pine
apples are featured. and during he
season the Oregon strawberry, but
there is no effort to encourage the con-
sumption of the Oregon apple or the /
Oregon pear. Even at Hood River and /
at Medford the restaurant and grill .
service does not include apples, except,
perhaps, occasionally as baked and fire.
quently as pie in competition with a
dozen other standard varetiesof pie.
doubt, seriously, if Oregon or
chards now produce more fruit than
could be consumed within the state,
with due consideration for the health .
of the people and the loyal patronage |
of Oregon industries.
The average fruit grower does not .
fully realize that when he becomes q
salesman he must protect his custom.
ers in their several fields and make
good on supply and quality of goods
needed by each customer. The shipper
who does spasmodic business, whether
in wheat or whetstone, must fail in
the face of modern competition.
Men who are supplying large quant-
ties of fruit for consumption should be
able to get supplies from the same con-
cern. under the same rules and regula.
tions, season after season. And, as
much of the success in business de-
pends on personality and acquaintance,
change in management should not be
frequent In Oregon selling agencies
have trained too many men. Efficient
enterprises are seldom new enter
prises; efficient men are those who
have had adequate training and not
little experience. Il
During the opening of the apple
season little mentinn Was made ID anY