The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-12-19
BERRY UNION
PROPOSES TO
GO 1T ALONE
Sentiment of Growers Almost
Unanimous Against Contract
. ing with a Selling Agency
ANNUAL MEETING is HELD
Believe More Satisfactory Results
Can be Obtained by Its Own
Sales Organization

There is little doubt but that the
Kennewick- -Richland Marketing Union
will ego it alone" this year and mar
ket its own products. The Union is
now in its fourth year, but heretofore
it has been no more than an assem-
bling agency and has not directly en-
tered the markets as selling concern.
For the last three years its tonnage
has been sold by the Spokane Fruit
growers company on a per package
selling charge.
While results under this plan were
in the main satisfactory, growers are
undoubtedly of the opinion that the
time has come when the Union is well
enough established to take its place
as marketing agency with its own
sales force. Sentiment to this effect
was most freely expressed at the an
nual meeting held Tuesday afternoon
in the X. of p. hall.
The meeting was well attended and
was harmonious thruout. No friction
developed anywhere and the officials
view the absence Of criticism as an in
dication that there will be few, if any,
Withdrawals next year and the Union
will again be able to control nearly 100
per cent of the strawberry acreage of
Kennewick and Richland.
The Union will continue to handle
asparagus and early potatoes and pos
sibly one or two additional crops will
be handled. Such additions will be un-
crops so that the Union will
not be encroaching upon the business
IF any other growers organizations.
No definite action regarding addition
Il crops was taken but the matter was
eft in the hands of committee.
While there was only casual dis
.ussion of the question of grade and
back, members are apparently well
'leased with the rules adopted during
he season last year. These rules pro-
Iide for two grades, extra fancy and
ancy, with the elimination of num-
'er twos and field run. These grades
eep the market clear Of inferior stuff
nd gives the grower with an old patch
nd small berries chance to secure
good price for his product by putting
p a straight fancy pack. The style
f asparagus container will be chang
d next year to meet the demands of
ne trade. The-old "shoe-box" contain
r will be discarded and a flat-two-
impairment crate will be used. The
ubical contents of the two containers
nil be the same but the new one will
rovide much better ventilation and
nil make a much more attractive
ackage. Samples of the new contain
r have been submitted to several Of
ne larger buyers and has been ap-
roved by them.
The report Of local manager F. H.
rug showed that the finances of the
rganization are in good shape, there
eing substantial cash balance this
ear instead of the usual deficit. The
lies records of the Union are still held
/ Spokane and Mr.. Krug was unable
} make an accurate report on the
sason's prices. Indications are that
he season average for berries was
bout 1922 cate for all grades and
he asparagus price will be close to
Loo crate.
The following directors Were elected:
Brue, l. S. Gleason
nd A. C. Boldt; Richland-J. r. Card
er, Fred Johnson and Simon Carlson.
hese six men will select one adii-
onal director each from Kennewick
I'd Richland and third director who
i'll be president of the board and the
Mon. A meeting for this purpose
i'll be held in Richland Saturday af-
rnoon of this week.