The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-11-09

Q 1850 SAAS SAAASS VI N1dTk6CS ana
Rural Organization of the department
found greater need for it's studies and
activities than in the marketing of
perlshable fruits and vegetables. With
these easily damaged products, ex-
IRENE care in handling and speedy
movement are essential at every stage
OF progress from producer to consum-
er. These requirements bring difficult
ties not encountered in the distribu-
ton of the more staple crops. Long
hauls and refrigeration also are often
necessary, and in some cases the pro-
ducts must be placed in cold storage.
These factors add still further to the
peculiar difficulty in the case of per-
ishables of fulfilling the primary need
OF efficient marketing-to place the
products on the market at an advan-
tageous time, in good condition, and
under circumstances which will make
their sale profitable to the producer.
AS now organized, the production of
perishable fruits and vegetables is a
highly specialized agricultural indus
try. 1t is concentrated to large ex-
tent in certain localities, but is con-
Quoted predominately on small-scale
basis. Many of the regions devoted
especially to trucking and fruit grow
ing, are situated far from market
points. The industry in this special
lied form came into existence when
the growth of great cities necessitated
the drawing of perishable food sup
plies from greater areas than the zone
of farms in the immediate vicinity and
when the extension of railroads made
utilization of this greater area pos
sible. Coupled with these two forces,
making for the specialization and ex-
tension of truck farming in regions
remote from market, has been a
marked change in demand. With the
growth of prosperity there has come
an ever-increasing desire for food lux
uries, and this has often taken the
form of demand for out-of-season
fruits and vegetables. AS a result, pro-
ducing areas for perishables have
been pushed into the extreme south
and southwest.
Since the growth of cities and rail-
roads laid the foundation for the
specialized production of fruits and
vegetables for market, these commod-
dities have occupied place of grow
ing Importance on the American mar
ket until of the approximately loo
million tons of farm produce shipped
by rail annually about 20 million tons
belong to the perishable class. Among
the farm products entering commerce
by rail only the weighty grains now
surpass the perishables in tonnage.
| Fundamental Problems
The problems in the marketing OF
i this vast amount of perishables begin
as do most marketing problems, with
production. The variety of the fruit OF
vegetables grown and the amount Of
this variety available often are i'm
portant factors in shaping market de-
mand and prices. The quality of the
product, as Influenced by choice Of
soils, fertilizers and cultural method:
is another important consideration at
fecting marketing success.
Since the growing of perishablt
fruits and vegetables is on a compare
lively small-scale basis, while thu
large aggregate demands of the great
market centers have brought about
the existence of dealers who handle
such produce only in large lots, thu
questions of production which latel
influence marketing can be dealt will
satisfactorily in most cases only on ;
community basis. This fact and tn
recognition that many other problems
in the marketing of perishables coul,
be met satisfactorily only by step
which would give the small-scale &C
tivities of the producers some Of tn
advantages of large-scale operations
led the Office of Markets and Rura
Organization early in its work to ad
vocate the cooperative organization
of growers wherever conditions wer
favorable. The needs for cooperativ
organization proved so fundamenta
when the office started its investiga
tins that it was found possible to az
proach many Of the general marketing
problems thru the organization worl
; In dealing with the cooperative OF
ganization phase of its investigation
the Office has made intensive studio
of numerous existing associations, ar
alyzing their good and bad points.
has published a number OF bulletin
. dealing with these questions and sue
costing desirable forms of constltr
lions and bylaws, business method
and activities that may be undertake
nrOfitablv