The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-05-15
ZERO HOUR FOR
FRUIT CROP
is PASSED
Strawberries Lead the Way for
Kennewick's Biggest Fruit
Tonnage
ship FIRST CRATE SUNDAY
Buyers Say Prices will be Highest
Ever Paid for Northwest Or
chard Products

*' chard Products
Kennewick's 1919 fruit crop is on
its way to market. The first crate of
strawberries was shipped out by the
Kennewick- -Richland Marketing Union
Sunday evening and was sold in Spo-
kane for $1,000. The next two crates
were shipped to Seattle, where one
crate was sold at fifty cents a hallock
to the dealers on Western Avenue and
neted the Union SIP. The other crate
was sold for $6.
To Robt. Schlemlein belongs the
honor of bringing the first ripe ber-
ries to the Union. He brought in two
hallocks Saturday. The race for the
first crate was close one between C.
Hoadley, of Section Seven and Frank
Yoshino, of the Highlands. Mr.. Hoad-
ley delivered full crate to the Union
Monday and shortly afterward Mr..
Yoshino came in with two crates.
The Union yesterday shipped 70
crates at $500 crate f. o. b. Kenne-
wick and today slightly increased re-
sceipts are expected. Orders for more
than double the number of crates that
will be received have been booked for
today by the Union at $3.50 crate.
, Altho it is impossible at this time
to make any accurate forecast as to
the tonnage or prices, the outlook is
favorable. Both price and tonnage,
however, depend very largely upon the
weather conditions. For the most part
patches are in excellent condition and
with good ripening weather the ber-
ries will como on in fine shape. The
Northwest markets are still well sup
piled with fancy California stocks, but
jobbers have announced that they will
clear the market of CALIFORNIA; just
as soon as the local berries begin to
arrive in quantity shipments.
The asparagus market, which took a
decided slump short time ago, when
Kennewick grass dropped to seventy
five cents, is back again. For several
days the Union had no difficulty in
disposing of it's stocks at 81 40 a crate
and orders are considerably in excess
of the supply at that price.
Local Manager F. III. Krug says the
Union is adhering strictly to the rule
of weekend settlements and the job
bers are apparently well pleased with
this method of doing business. The
Union is making full payments to the
growers each week and hopes to be
able to follow this plan thruout the
season.
Shippers and growers are unani-
NOUS in the belief that Kennewick's
greatest fruit harvest is now on. All
danger from frosts is now over and
the fruit is on the trees. While in
general the Winesaps are setting light
this year it is estimated that Kenne-
wick's tonnage even in this variety
will be heavier than last year, because
Of the increased size of the young or
chards. The Jonathan and Rome
Beauty crop which was light last year
will be much larger this year.
Some of the cherries and apricots
were nipped by frost but nevertheless
there will be fair crop of these fruits.
The peach crop is apparently going to
be whopper, whereas last year it
was almost a total failure. Conser-
vative estimates place this years to-
tai fruit tonnage at 1900 carloads, or
double that of last year.
While definite predictions as to the
prices is a recreation which buyers
rarely indulge in, some of the dealers
this year as so confident of good
market that they are breaking pre-
cedent. F. v. Martin, of Spokane, field
manager for the Earl Fruit company,
which is represented in this territory
by the H. H. Davis company, in pub
hshed interview in Walla Walla the
first of the week said:
Apple growers in Oregon and
Washington are going to receive fam
.ey prices for their apples this Year,
mere than they ever received before,
s''ce apples have been raised in this
section of the United States.
Jonathan prices will not be less
than $500 f. o. b. shipping point in
car lots and Winesaps s2.10 TO S2.25l