Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-22
CRUM TELLS OF APPLE CROP.
(Tribune, Lewiston)

George e. Crum, of White Bros. &
Crum, has returned from North Yakt-
ma, where his firm maintains an office
for the handling of shipments from the
Yakima valley. The Yakima office has
handled several hundred cars of fruit
thus far this season and now is occu-
pied with the shipping of winter ap
pies.
Mr.. Crum said the Yakima valley
will have approximately 5000 cars of
apples this season and the Wenatchee
district as many more. Other dis
tricts of northern Idaho. Washington
and Oregon will have about 1000 more,
which will make the total shipment for
Idaho, Washington and Oregon for this
season around 10000 cars.
Each year." said Mr.. Crum, will
show a material increase in the produc-
ton of apples. The industry here is
still in the infantile stage For exam
pie. the Lewiston orchards this season
will ship only about $50 cars. In a few
years the shipments in this compare
lively small district will reach into the
thousands. Other districts will show
corresponding increases
What about markets for northwest
apples when the maximum production
of the orchards now planted is reach
ed?" was asked Mr.. Crum.
That is not a problem to worry
about" he said. THE markets of our
own country when properly developed
will consume far more fruit than at
present. 1t is surprising how much
fruit people will consume when it is
available at reasonable prices and
nQlIaH IN thafr ~ wi
not sell itself any more than tinker
tops or pianos. The seller has work
to perform, the same as the producer,
and he must work at 1t as faithfully
and industriously If the maximum con-
sumption is to be attained.
Let me illustrate: few years ago
our firm had an order for 10 boxes of
peaches from a retailer In one of the
little towns of the Palouse country.
Our salesman convinced him that his
market was big enough for straight
carload of peaches. The retailer got
busy and in day or two had enough
orders booked for a carload. In a few
days he called up, ordering another
car. This retailer was surprised to
learn that 1t required but little more
energy to sell a carload of peaches than
1t did to dispose of 10-boX lot. The
farmers were glad to get the peaches,
but they were too busy to think about
them until their attention was called
to them.
Every box of peaches grown in this
valley should be consumed within a
radius of 100 miles from Lewiston. In
our business we have always advocated
home markets first.
$50 / say when the markets of the
United States are properly worked and
the export business better developed,
the increase in consumption will keep
pace with the increase in production.
When the European war is over and
international trade relations and ship
ping conditions are again normal there
will be, in my opinion, rapid expan-
sion of the export apple business.
Harvesting the crop, not marketing
It," continued Mr.. Crum. is the big
problem confronting the northwest ap-
PIE grower. At present there is a
shortage of pickers, packers, boxes.
paper and cards. The production of
apples in the northwest is increasing
far more rapidly than the facilities for
harvesting and shipping them. One
would think any migratory laborer
could pick, sort or pack apples. Not so.
Much of the labor now employed is
only so per cent efficient, some even
less. A certain amount of skill is nee
essary in the harvesting of apples, the
same as in growing and marketing.
The difficulties of the labor problem
will necessitate a more simple and
rapid method of putting up fruit for
shipment. Some new, convenient
package which will eliminate about rs
per cent of the work and expense now
necessary in grading and packing will
be developed in the near future.
"The railroads will likewise have to
prepare for the increased tonnage.
They will require more refrigerators.
If there is a shortage now what will 1t
be m few years with the tremendous
increase in production. unless they
make preparedness paramount issue
and act accordingly? Railroad rates
also need adjusting and reduction In
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