Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-12-20

dire necessity has driven Us TO coop.
Grafton 70 save our very existence.
Truck farming and marketing Is
quite different today from what u was
twenty-five years ago when l began the !
produce business by sorting, grading
and packing vegetables and fruits for
commission merchants In Chicago.
Since that time the handling and mar
ketlng Of perishable products has been
classified as a distinct line Of business,
and this business has been taken up
entirely by produce merchants and
farmers have been relieved Of all re-
sponsibIlIty Of marketing their prod
ucts.
Twenty-Five years ago truck market
ing was the farmers business. The
merchant sold the farmers products
for them Tor commission of ten per
cent. And they worked hard to secure
the best price possible TO get the farm
ers' business. Now truck marketing
IL the merchants business and farmers
are growing produce for them for
commission of fifteen per cent and they
are working hard 10 get the mcr-
chants business.
Twenty-Five years ago the farmers
price was based upon the consumption
price IN the city where the products
were sold. Today the farmers price
Is based upon production price In
New Jersey, Florida or California.
Now. since truck farming and mark
citing have been divorced let ms notice
the progress made IN the two separate
lines Of business.
Two things most noticeable IN the
farming line were a lowering ~ farm
prices and Capitalization Of indus
try. BY the lowering IT farm prices
truck farming on a commercial scale
has been narrowed down 10 coast
states largely where climatic and all
conditions for cheap production are
favorable.
The marketing industry has just had
the opposite experience. Slowly hut
surely prices rose and the produce bus
mess was extended throughout the
country. Great business firms were or
ganIzed with branch houses every.
where. And agents were in every see
tiOn buying and contracting produce to
supply the markets The producers
: price went down till II struck the hot
: tom hut there seemed to he no he'd
rock above. so the consumers price
continued to ascend until just before
: the war. The serious thing about II
/ was the fact that the truck farmers
) who were largely feeding the nation
/ were receiving Ony about fifteen per
cent Of the market value Of their prod
ucts. And the shelf.worn law Of sup.
ply and demand has just about as
: much 10 do with fixing these prices
. as II did with settling our late dispute
with the kaiser.
The farmers of mountain suites were
! knocked ont by competition. The far,
!, mcrs Of coast states were held down
!. hv exploitation. The consuming pub
lie was held IN by monopolization and
the whole thing was accomplished by
cooperation.
Since twenty-five years ago we have
seen the produce business develope,
j into one Of the richest and most pros
y porous lines of business IN America
!, while the truck farming business haI
= remained comparatively Improbable
T" Here Is the lesson ] wish to hrinl
y to the truck farmers by this genera
= = history Of truck farming and market
= Ing viz: That this tagging behind o
: the truck farming industry since helm
y separated from the marketing indus
' try Is evidence that the rich Siste
u branch got away with more than he
" rightful share Of the profits and tha
the original idea that truck farmn
" and truck marketing should he n Slr
gle industry with two independer
branches.
BY observation we have learned thu
cooperation IN the marketing Of farl
products IL practical aud pro6tah
Int M far farmers generally have u,
received the benefit Of that coopori
tlOn. Those who have the handlh
and marketing Of our products, thrOus
business tactics. have cut MS OF fro
our Just profits.
I In the great rich farming 1letrlc
where thousands Of acres ara grow
| with superb equipment and cheap i
/ bOr the cost Of production II ilgur,
down to ilne point and margin Ov,
that cuSt IL the price the producer r
Ceiyes for his products and also Il
price the produce houses pay for Il
4 goo,ls they handle On the other hai
The retail price In the locality whe
those products are consumed Is Il
price upon which the wholesaler has
his selling price. Aud any margin tn
1 Is created by cooperation or otherwi
between the production price and u
j consumption price II the mlddlemer
. margin.
! The pecnllarlty Of the situation
\ our mountain section Of the count
9 Is tina; the climatic conditions with 4
! high cost Of living, labor and wat
n cuast farmers: yet owing TO the IA
l. fnr i,.,.l,satton ronslor our cost ~ N,