The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-11-30
WILL BERRY
GROWERS STICK
BY THE UNION?
f,uestion of Cooperative Mar
keting Again Up to Men who
Raise the Berries
NETTING DECEMBER EIGHTH
.1I,less IS Per Cent of Crop is Pledged
Directors Are Not Willing
To Go Ahead

The strawberry is again in the bal
.nce. The question of whether the
berry crop of the Kennewick-R -Richiand
district is to be marketed thru several
channels or one is again up to the
grower.
Altho at the close of this years
season the Kenncwick- -Richland Mar
keting Union was Incorporated for the
purposes Of permanently handling the
crop, so far ss the present board of
directors are concerned no berries will
be marketed unless at least 85 per cent
Of the total crop can b brought under
the control of the organization.
Neither are the directors disposed to
waste any time in personal solicita-
ton among the growers to get them to
sign the marketing agreement. They
are proceeding in the belief that the
purposes and objects of the Union and
the benefits of cooperative marketing
are we'll enough known to the growers
Is to require no further explanation.
The Union has been organized along
the same general lines as was this
years temporary organization. The
directors may or may not choose to
enter into contract with any other
agency for handling the marketing
end, but the general features Of the
cooperative effort will be the same in
either case.
It is the intention to widen the scope
Of the Union somewhat next year and
include the marketing of early pota-
toes and asparagus. The rule how
ever, will apply to these crops as to
berries, 85 per cent of the total acre
age must be signed up before market
ing will be undertaken. Later in the
year, if the membership deems advis-
able, other crops may be taken in,
but for the present the Union will con-
fine its activities to these three pro-
ducts.
At meeting Of the directors last
week it was decided to put the ques-
ton up to the growers at meetings
here and at Ireland. The Richland
meeting will be held Tuesday after
noon Of next week and the Kennewick
meeting Friday afternoon, December
at 1:30 in the Commercial club room
Every strawberry, every asparagus
and every potato grower is urged to
= be present for the purpose Of making
known his position. If 85 per cent
4 Of the acreage is pledged the directors
wnl 60 ahead with marketing plans
II not the proposition will be dropped
The Richland directors are Of the
opinion that their growers will come
In as unit with 100 per cent Of tht
acreage pledged" said President Lex
M. Lampson. "While there may be {
lew down here that will want to sta!
out, there is no doubt in my mind bu
tnat S5 per cent or more will be signet
up at next weeks meeting. With on
possible exception I believe every on
OF last years members will be with u
now and one or two growers who wen
II Independently last year have ex
pressed desire to get into the Uniol
next year.
The result of this years efforts ar
COO manifest to be disputed. One nee
put to ride thru the valley to realiz
tnat something different has happene
70 the strawberry industry. Wher
weeds grew in former years there ar
clean, well-cultivated rows now. Wit
one or two exceptions every strawbel
~ patch in the Kennewick- Richlan
district is today in almost perfet
snape. They have been kept free frol
weeds, they have been fertilized a
'ney were never before and as n
SUIT next years crop is going to be tn
nnest ever produced in the, vale.
ims years marketing experience hs
put new life into the strawberry il
dustry and has furnished an incenti,
70 the grower to put in more work ar
spend more money on his patch. M
only are the old patches in the be
condition they have ever been b'