The true Democrat., 1916-01-29
NORWOOD SOLVES
CANNING PROBLEMS
Herman ] seifer'h In Times. Pieayune

|
mense quantity of canned vegetables,
and the market even covers the re-
tnainder of the world. Louisiana Ia
capable Of being made the worlds q
truck garden. raising vegetables I'm
profuslon the whole year round. That
means che affords the ideal Acid and
opportunities for eanneries. The In.
dnstry has started. and despite the fact
that In almost every instance the In.
vestmen,ofeapitai has been inadequate
those properly conducted to any de.
gree have done we'll The truth sur.
wives, however. that Louisiana is young
and inexperienced In the Industry.
that there are many problems TO solve
that the canning business is destined
TO grow into one OF the states richest
and most reliable assets. and that
more guidance for the future can be
secured from the little plant at Nor.
wood than from any other, not exclud.
Ing the large establishments which are
daily advancing In patronage and i'm.
portance.
The Norwood plant, rough and un.
pretenttous, Is model In a number of
ways, While II is a private venture |,
ls really community enterprise and
was designed to care for the truck crop
of the section Cotton had failed. veg.
etables were substituted. the right
season and markets were not struck
and to avert disaster and conserve
hope, the eannery was launched II did
not study demand, canned the wrong
stuff. did not end out how To stop
waste and leaks. and was not an In
spring success Now II Ia on its feet,
wlping out old scores. and will In
few years be working the whole In.
stead Of part of the year. proving the
malnstay OF the farm community. The
story OF the start has been told, that
ol the evolution Ia new, and the re.
eital need not be lengthy,
When the Louisiana Dairymen met
at Norwood recently. w. A. West, one
OF the leaders In the sections progress. |
invited the members TO visit the plant. |
He said II had been In operation three |
years and had not yet made money but |
had proven q boon to the truck grow.
ers and the people II was putting up |
sauer kraut, beans, wild bIackherrtes, |
tomatoes, and sweet potatoes Its out.
pat was being distributed In twenty |
states. and 40 far west as Washington |
There had heen no trouble With any
phase Of operation In the last two
years, ard IL now wonderful success.
II In paying the farmers thirty cents a
bushel for sweet potatoes, $40 O ton
for their cabbage and tomatoes. and
fifty cents bushei for green beans.
As the market waa at their gate and
they received cash ON the spot they
found that the prices paid them were
good and did not interfere with the
Of their crops a. larger
profit when the chance offered
One Of the FIRST general lessons Ats
In here. Manager p, N, steinbsrg, who
has turned defeat into victory, made
several things plain to the farmers
from his advent. One WAS that the
sannery was not the dumping ground
Tor euils. ripes. and other such pro-
iuets Success required that only fhe
bes, vegetables be used, and only the
ees, would be accepted Al the same
lime. the truck that sold best fresh
was not always best TO can. He point
I'd out the varieties he favored, and
insisted that they not only grew these
but grow them regularly and In guam.
ity that would permit the plant to run
or the longest period possible. Eduea.
ion took time, and the prof, argument
vas the most convincing. When the
armers were tn full mood 10 cooperate
he went litsie farther. AT a general
meeting few weeks ago he carried
his final point The farmers slgned
contracts for stated supply and rate,
md not for the crops they naoss faneied
,ui for all the different vegetables the
decided to handle In order TO
operate most advansageousiy and for
he fullest time, That provides a safe
md sure basis upon which to proceed
The next lesson was evident upon
'ntering the factory. In the immense
bile of canned yams which WAS not
,eing disturbed but which Ia one OF
he seasons main assets. When the
'otatoes were canned all the farmers
md factories were rushing the crop 10
market and the price was low. Nor.
wood did not rush, II calculated upon
he size OF the crop and the duratien
II the supply. and contracted for de,
livery TO the merchants after the sup.
,ls vas exhausted. The little matter
u storage will net is cents q dozen
nara and that margin ON thai ana