Smyrna times., 1917-07-04
LOW PRICE BERRIES A TIP
TO GROWERS TO ORGANIZE
COLLECT ONLY 8 CENTS IN SUS-
SEX; CONSUMERS PAY 10 AND Is
Buyers Hold Growers by the Throat
Not Only in Berries But in Toma-
toes and Other Crops as Well.

Not Only in Berries But in Toma-
toes and Other Crops as Well.
The strawberry season in Delaware
and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
is over and more clearly than ever
have the farmers been shown that un.
til they organize into a selling COM
pany they will be at the mercy of the
buyers. Not only is this true of
strawberries, but with tomatoes and
other perishable fruits or vegetables.
The strawberry crop is one which must
be moved quickly. When ripe they
must be picked and sold no matter
what the price or the condition of the
market. Be it said to the credit of
the raiload company that notwith-
standing the enormous demands made
upon it this year. it has stood by the
farmer and the big shipments have
moved splendidly up the line. Altho
a car shortage was feared, the rail-
road company oiled its great machin-
cry, and in consequence there were
plenty of cars and the trains moved
out on time. With the buyers, how
ever, it has been different question.
When Strawberries were selling in
the city markets for as much as Is
and 20 cents a quart, the growers
were paid as low as cents a quart,
and in consequence many of the grow
ers simply stopped picking and al
lowed the berries to rot in the fields.
Growers Must Stick Together
The only remedy. according to in
vestigators, will be the organization
of growers for the purpose of market
ing their own crops in a similar way
to that used by the California fruit
growers. Unfortunately, it is the
farmer himself who is holding up this
important move. Suspicious of each
other and afraid that one neighbor
may get slight advantage, they re-
fuse to organize. In some sections
very good prices are received, the
Georgetown section being one of the
most fortunate in that respect. Here
the prices remain fairly good through
out the season and most of the grow
ers are able to show a fair bank ac-
count at the end of the season. But
in the Fruitland and the Bridgevilie
sections and some parts of lower Mary
land. the loss has been heavy. The
strawberry industry has been dealt
heavy blow from which it will not re-
cover in years. The methods of the
buyers could prOftably be followed by
the farmers. if they would be willing
TO accept q present loss for a future
gain. an idea hard for the average
grower to understand If growers
would refuse TO accept low prices il
would be short time before the buy
ers would come TO terms. The grow
ers. however. will not Orgsnize, so
that when one man refuses to sell at
low prices the majority Will sell at
sny price. and the buyers are well
swSre of this fact
Group of Buyers Often Secretly in Deal
When a group of buyers g to
marketing center the first thing they
are compelled to do is to make peace
with the big local man. This mAn
must receive 3 certain amount on
every crate of strawberries shipped
out of that town or he will make
trouble. How will he make trouble!
Easy enough. With the buyers who
stick with him he will jump in the
market and absolutely refuse to allow
the offender to purchase anything ex-
cept at exorbitant prices. The at
tempt co purchase berries without Civ
ing the local man his rake-off has
been tried too often with disastrous
ending for buyers to try it any more.
In consequence, the first thing they do
when they arrive is to join the pool
with the local buyer at the head.
Does the buyer have to pay this COM
mission? Not at all. 1t comes back
to him in lower prices. For the
night before the buyers get together
one man vans carload, another three
carloads and so on. The next days
buying is apportioned, prices set or
rather the averages set so that load
or two can be bought at big prices
to encourage the growers. All the
berries bought for the first half hour
of the day may 60 to one man, until
ne gets his carload filled and then an
other buyer gets the next car, and
so on until all get their orders filled
at the prices before arranged. If
grower kicks he is at once black
listed and his berries are refused at
any price. he is up against it, and
although all kick privately, it is hard
to get one to make a public statement
for he fears the consequences.
Independent Buyer and How he Works