The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-09-08
UNCLE SAM TAKES
KEEN INTEREST,"
.: 1917 APPLE CROP
Our Big Fruit Harvest Must Be
Used to Help Save Wheat
:.
:: and Meat for Allies,
FOOD ADMINISTRATION PLANS
consumer Campaign" Throughout the
Land to Aid in Home Consumption
During Autumn, Winter and
Spring of Next Year.

Uncle Sam takes the keenest inter
est in this years apple crop. For the
fruit must lie used to help save wheat
and meats for our allies.
The food administration is planning
a consumer campaign of publicity
throughout the country.
" This years apple crop calls for in.
telligent handling. The latest govern
ment reports indicate crop of about
! 19O,OO0OOO bushels. That is a little
below normal. Good prices are assured
for all honestly packed, first quality
apples, and also for honestly packed,
selected second grades, which govern
ment experts say can be put into stor-
age. When the crop is big it does not
pay to store second grades, but this
year, despite the fact that we cannot
ship our usual 100000 barrels of ap-
pies abroad, because shipping space is
precious, we should be able to get fair
prices for all good apples at home.
Careless packing of poor 0ndlity
fruit has always been one of the chief
causes of market instability and I'M
satisfactory prices to the growers.
This year the whole apple industry is
cooperating to remove this market
handicap. There has never been an
apple year such as this one is going 20
be. Growers have never been able to
get together and engage and finance
national educational campaign
among consumers to increase apple
consumption. This year the situation
makes. it necessary for the United
States government, through the food
to conduct a consum-
ers campaign of publicity on behalf of
the apple. This campaign will begin
while the crop is being sent to market,
and will probably continue until the |
last apple is eaten up late next spring. |
SO the grower has three great incen-
lives for grading, packing and storing
this crop with especial care.
1. 1t is a good crop and calls for
care.
:. The government will encourage
apple eating and apple storage and
viii discourage speculation that raises
he price abnormally.
8. We must eat up at home more
nan two million barrels of apples.
which would ordinarily be exported.
To get the best of the crop 10 the
market in prime condition it must be
picked carefully at the time of ma
urity and promptly cooled in tenn
'Orary storage, and then skillfuly
raded and packed. SecOnd-grade
ruit should not go into barrels or
'oxes. If it cannot be marketed i'm
,ulk In nearby consuming centers.
hen it should be worked up into by
roducts along with the culls.
There has been a gratifying i'm.
rovement in apple marketing the past
~o or three years. Western apples
re boxed to strictly honest standards,
Y the great cooperative growers or
anizations in Washington. Oregon.
alifornia, Idaho and Colorado. The
astern barrel apple has also been
improved in New York
nd other states. Because apples are I,
Onestly packed and give the best DOS
Die value for the money, there is an !,
crease in the consumer demand. Re-
III merchants who were formerly al :
ost afraid to buy apples i'm barrels. Z
cause they were not sure of getting !.
arketable values for their money. !.
e now buying freely and In conf
nee. This good work makes II DOS d
Bile for the government to 20 further {
III encourage the use of apples as a y
lr-time food measure. U
Because the bulk of the crop will be =
cked by volunteer workers this wear. =
q put into common storage until the -
over can find time to grade and -
OK, there will be an opportunity to
re closer personal attention 10 the W
aiding and packing than might be the al
Sc II the crop were handled as in o.
ace times. For the grower who de- 81
es instructions in apple'packing. the II
,artment of agriculture at Wash d.
ton has information in bulletin al
m. These bulletins can be secured W
e by writing to the department. &C
overs will do well to obtain q few W
'ies for their pickers and packers. st