The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-10-20

The honest commission man does his best to
make good sales, but he has idea to the
amount being forwarded to him, he is not con-
suited to whether the market in which he is
to sell is favorable or not. He has little money
invested in the fruit he is offering for sale and
he has more to gain by making quick sales and
lots of them, than by fighting for good prices to
the producer Yet the consignment method is
about the only way that, yet much of the fruit
be marketed. The fruit is ungraded as to
quality. 1t is presented for sale in such small
lots that the cash buyer cannot afford To wait
around for its arrival ut shipping points. 1t is
about the only way for unorganZed fruit grow
ut scattered points 10 turn the results of their
toll into something that will buy tea. coffee, and
sugar, or ut least will do this part Of the time.
The association or cooperative method of
marketing is gaining in favor just now. Not only
are associations increasing in number, but the vol
of fruit handled by the associations is be-
coming larger year by year. The real function
of the fruit-shpping association is to gather to-
gether the output from many farms grade ii
TO quality, mass 1t in carloads and market ii so
to get all THE economics and advantages at
tributed to large-scale operations. Experience has
proved beyond all doubt that the producer profits
when he takes this part of the distributive
function and efficiently performs it for himself
instead of paying middeman TO do It for him.
The larger part of the grapes from the AIich-
gan grape belt now being marketed by asso
Citations located at Paw Paw, Lawton and ST. Jo
seph The peaches from the orchards in the vi
cinity of South Haven, Hartford Covert Bangor,
Fenville, Fremont Ludngton and Scottville
brought to central packing houses, where they
graded according to quality and packed to
meet the requirements of consumers in far-distant
cities. The greater part of the fruit handled by
the associations is forwarded in car lots and thus
the difference between the less-than-car-lot rate
and the carlot rate is saved to the producer.
Furthermore, there are other savings for the
producer, particularly in connection with losses
In transst, the lodging of glutted markets. bad
debts, ETC. 1t is the general rule of the associa-
tons to pool the returns for the same varieties
and grades thus evenly distributing the losses
and the record sales.
In few cases the bean growers have organized
associations for the operation Of elevators on
cooperative basis When they have so done
they have obtained portion Of the mlddemans
profit. The slogan OF the bean growers is "com-
pensatory prices" They give expression to their
desire through the activity of the Michigan Bean
Growers association and its locals. Each fall
just Mt harvest time the state association meets,
reviews the crop figures gathered by state and
federal governments and by individuals. and then
the association resolves that the selling price
should be so and so. Whereupon word Is passed
along the line from grower to grower to hold for
the figure set. The 1916 meeting was held in
Grand Rapids September 49, and the prices
for the season made So bushel for imme-
diete deliver, with increase of 10 cents n
month until January The bean jobbers, who
were In session In the same city at the same
time were informed of the decision and the indi-
vidual bean buyers began Mt once to arrange their
plans to fit the proposed schedule. The decision
Of the Michigan growers was telegraphcd to the