Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-01

M dkIngU eOrgI0 FTO0UClS uHLOuS
why is 1t. asks the Townsville I1mes-hhler-
prise. that one buy banana, grown tnou-
sands OF miles from Georgia. almost cheaply as
one can buy equal ratio of other foodstun
crown a few miles from home? And why is 1t
thar California oranges. raisins and other fruits,
though raised on the continents western extreme,
can be sold in Georgia towns at reasonable prices
and in prime condition? The Times-Enterprlse
answers its question in way well worth the
attention of everyone who is interested In enec-
tive methods OF marketing Georgia food products
and promoting the States agricultural prosperity
The banana growers it says, cooperate at
every stage and in all the processes of disposing
OF their crops from the time they packed and
shipped until they are sold in this country and
remittances are made. So with the California
orange growers who in recent years have made
more money than ever before in the history OF
their industry.
The keynote of their success is co-opera-
ton. They have formed themselves into a
great association. Each grower contributes
proportionately to it's expenses. and they are
advertising their fruits AS result, de-
mand is created, it is nearly impossible to
glrt the market, the sales being quick be-
cause the consumers have learned to call for
the California products under the advertised
name II would have been impossible for
an. one grower 10 pay NhO Sooe VI 81 PoFN
larizing these fruits. Cooperation. again is
The answer Before the South Georgia farm
er can get the best possible returns from his
labors he too. will have realized the worth
of cooperation. The state agricultural Off
Gals are endeavoring 10 secure cooperation
from Georgia farmers. that they may be able
to sell in large enough bulk to compete with
bidders for contracts to feed the men at the
army concentration camps. especially those
located in the South. This effort be
turned into a really great success, but the
lesson of cooperation must be learned i'm
mediately il We are to get what is to be had
for the necessary effort
At any time this advice would be seasonable
and sound but it is particularly so in year
when Georgia is entering upon new responsible
ties and new opportunities in food production.
There will be imperative need for all the grain,
meat and vegetables farmers possibly can
produce But must to il that adequate
facilities for marketing these products are pro-
vided: otherwise great quantities of food will go
TO waste notwithstanding the fact that the nation
will need every procurable ounce 1t is through
cooperation of one kind or another that those
facilities must be provided-co-operation between
town and country. between merchants and farmers
and among the farmers themselves. In several
score counties where food crop campaigns
have been organized this idea already has been
put into practice. and the results will be broadly
enriching to all the interests concerned.
For normal times well for the war
period cooperative methods will be invaluable
both in developing markets and in enabling the
producer to give well receive the best serv-
ice at the lowest cost. This has been exemplifed
most impressyeIy in the Georgia peach industry.
In the days before the Fruit Exchange was or
ganized when every grower dependent on his in
profits of this industry precarious and COM
paratively small. while the losses were frequent
and large There would be a gIut of fruit in one
market, and dearth in another condition as
unfavorable to the consumer as to the producer
Now all that is changed. A cooperative system.
conducted on a wholly responsible basis and by
thoroughly efficient methods eliminates waste,
protects the grower at points where formerly he
at the mercy of chance or of untrustworthy
agents and maintains for the Georgia peach a
standard of par excellence the nation over It is
q matter of record that the Georgia crop nets a
larger proporionate return than that of any other
State. and IL does because IL is most efficiently
marketed.
The principles and methods that have been an
piled prohtably in this instance can be adapted
with equally substantial results to other products
Suppose. for example, several hundred or several
thousand growers should join interests in intro
ducing and marketing sweet potatoes in the North
and East Sweet potatoes of high food value
as we'll highly palatable. when rightly prepared
They easily grown. easily stored and easily
shipped. But they are not generally appreciated
outside OF the South. BY intelligent advertising
and effective marketing. however, the Georgia
yam could be as famous the Georgia peach or
California oranges and raisins. II could be made
to represent to millions of consumers in other
States standard product distinctive for it's tooth
someness and reliability.
There is practically kind of food crop mar
keting to which cooperative methods cannot he
applied with helpful results. Every Georgia
county should study its own needs and opportu-
mites IN this particular and effect appropriate
CARNATIONS.