The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-02
FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.


Editor Bob Powell, of the Sanford
Herald, in his story of the convention
of the Florida state press convention at
Pensacola, while finding much to COM
mend, calls attention to the backward
ness of this part of the state. in taking
advantage of it's fine agricultural OPP
portunities.
Mr.. Powell is in position to know
whereof he speaks, and promises to
write again on the same lines and more
at length. Sanford, the home of Mr..
Powell. has made itself famous and
rich through shipments of celery and
other Florida vegetables TO the north
Iern market.
With the climate and soil of Escam-
bia county there is no reason In the
world why this part of the state should
not be equally as successful IN rais-
ing and shipping vegetables north.
II 1t is fact, and The Journal does
not believe that it is,-that the west
ern part of the state cannot compete
with the southern section in raising
vegetables for the northern market. on
account Of the difference in climate,
it is most certainly possible for this
part of the state to compete with the
more northerly of the southern states.
For instance, the town of Fayette-
vile, North Carolina, for number OF
years shipped regularly to the north
ern markets the finest kind of headed
lettuce, grown in frame beds, it IS true,
but bringing such a splendid price as
to make it one OF the best paying crops.
In this same town were also raised and
shipped quantities of strawberries and
dewberries, and other small fruits and
vegetables.
If west Florida farmers feel that
they cannot compete with the truck
ers of the southern part of the state,
they can most certainly compete with
the farmers of North Carolina, in their
shipments of early vegetables.
The farmers of Holmes county have
recently shipped sweet potatoes Heft
over from last years crop at ten cents
a pound, f. o. b. Farmers of Escam-
bia county have recently shipped some
of the finest Irish potatoes grown In
the state.
II we have the climate and the soil.
why is it, then, that the farmers OF
west Florida are not taking their right
full place in agricultural development
of the state
We know that we can grow the vege-
tables, for Escambia county has car
ried off one blue ribbon at the state
fair, which means that Escambia
county led every county at one OF the
finest agricultural fairs in the country.
A farmer living some miles from
Pensacola said recently that he had
raised some of the finest truck he had
ever seen anywhere, and he had for
merly lived in a good agricultural sec
ton of the west, but after he raised
his crop he found it almost Impossible
to dispose of any of his vegetables to
local merchants. He had not raised
enough to ship to northern markets.
1t is here, probably, that we get at
the real cause of the trouble. What
we need is cooperation between the
farmers and the merchants; cooper
alive market, or cooperative associa-
ton. working for mutual benefit.
1t would not seem to be difficult to
work out some way whereby the small
farmer might be protected and through
which all interests might profit.
II we have the climate and the sol.
and can raise the vegetables all we
would seem to need is leaders with
business Judgment enough to utilize
what we have to the best advantage
A cooperative market is one way. Co.
operative modes of shipment is another
These cannot work out their own sal
walton, they need men of experience
and good business sense to do this
Men from the farms, trained to meet
these needs.
| Escambia county has these men
Why then do not they come forward
and form an organization for the pro-
lection of their interests and the mutua
benefit of the producer and the con
sumner