The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-08-24
GOODSELL TELLS OF
FOREIGN FRUIT TRADE

z. L. Goodsell, York fruit auction
man, Who was here last spring, writes
to Arthur M. Geary, of Portland, the
following relative to foreign fruit
trade conditions:
Present conditions in Europe, partic-
ularly In England. favor box apple ex-
ports this season from your state.
Business generally in all allied coun-
tries has been good and prices higher
than in normal times. for every kind of
food and fruit products. Oranges and
onions from Spain. imported into Eng
land in usual quantities have sold at
81. so per case for the former and So
for the later, fully 30 per cent higher
than two years ago. Tasmanian and
Port Said apples in very unattractive
boxes, not packed or graded like west
ern American apples. have sold gener-
ally at IS per box. do not consider
the flavor nor appearance of these ap-
Piles nearly equal to 0regon's.
Imports of Tasmanian apples this
season just ended, have aggregated
$50. 600 boxes. a third larger than last
year, with prices a third higher on an
average. Taking these facts and fig
ures into consideration it is fair to as
sumo American apples will sell at sat-
isfactory prices providing the exports
are not too large and it is possible to
ship, by the tonnage being free and
available. Up to the present no en-
barge has been put on American green
fruits. ReceRtly England ruled that
| Spanish oranges could only be shipped
on permits or licensed steamers. Un-
doubtedly British steamers from New
York will first have to carry all mer-
chandise required by the allied govern.
ments. Any free cargo space. can then
be used for carrying apples. How
much there will be available no one
knows. Freights have been fixed at
about IS cents per box and So per bar
rel from New York. This means box
apples pay through freight of $l.o5
per box.
Owing to very increased port charg-
es, labor and expenses, the cost OF
handling and selling apples this year in
England will be much higher than last.
On the other hand. 1t is reasonable tC
believe higher prices will make up the
added difference in expenses. Had my
suggestion of a chartered steamer beer
adopted. roughly speaking. apple ship.
pers would save in freight costs abou,
40 cents per box. Details of dried frui,
restrictions | enclose. | believe II the
governor of Oregon would cooperate
with the governors of Washington ant
California, apply Tor permission t
load a direct steamer on the lines pre-
viously proposed by me, that such al
application would be considered. If
am requested to do so | will give my
reasons for believing this to be so.
The Premier of Australia has demon
strated what state aid can and will d.
for producers in buying the Is steam
ers for the purpose Of carrying the ag
ricultural products of this country to
profitable market. Not having don,
. so, meant no steamers to carry thes,
products. This means Is million dollar
that Australia has been willing to pa.
out to meet the great needs of her pro
ducers.
Are the three dried and green frui
producing states willing to risk 500,
600 to do the same for their producers
, The after-the-war situation as consid
cred by the present meetings of tn
, allied congress has grave possibilitie
for American fruit producers.
The details are too many to discus
by writing. | believe, however, it
absolutely essential that there shoul
be congress of fruit producers called
with delegates from every state, t.
e discuss the phase of the future an
g it's relations to the future of the in
e dustry and the transportation question
: l should be glad to be present an
s give the details and reasons for my be
s lief of the necessity of unity of actio
d as the basis of self preservation.
!. If this meets the views of such Q
s the editors as you may discuss my sue
gestion with, there should be publicit
and work leading to bring about sue
| q rasnlt