The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-05-13
FIRST BERRY
SHIPMENTS
THIS WEEK
First Crates Handled by Kenne-
wick -Richland Marketing
Union Today.
MARKET OUTLOOK NOT GOOD
For, First Time in History White
Salmon Beats Kennewick to
Market With Berries

Down at the warehouse of the Ken
newick-Richland Marketing Union
nlans were being made this after
noon for the shipment of the first
crate Of the 1920 strawberry crop.
Several hallocks had already been re-
eeiyed and word came from Harry
Yamagami that he would be in with
A full crate later in the evening and
another crate was expected from Rich
land. The first hallock was delivers
ed to the Union on Wednesday by
Robert Schlemlein. With favorable
weather shipments will be compara-
lively heavy by the first of the week.
On the whole the berry patches are
looking we'll and indications are that
there will be good crop.
Conditions this year, however, are
more satisfactory at the growing
than at the selling end. The market
outlook is far from favorable and ship
pers are facing conditions which have
seldom, if ever prevailed at the OPEN
ing of the season. Owing to the late
ness of the spring here, Kennewick
has lost its customary lead over the
Northwest districts. For the first
time in the history Of the local berry
industry, White Salmon berries have
appeared on the market ahead of
those from Kennewick, Manager F..
n. Krug having received notice from
the Unions broker that a half crate
Of White Salmon berries arrived on
the Seattle market yesterday and that
daily shipments would undoubtedly
follow. If White Salmon berries are
ripe Hood Rivers must be also. This
will bring the three crops to market
at the same time. Added to this the
Northwest markets are already well
supplied with Florin berries for which
there is an Indifferent demand on ac-
count Of the high price and shortage
Of sugar. The following from the
Tuesdays issue Of the Daily Produce
News shows that the Seattle market
is far from satisfactory.
'The curb overfowed with delicious
red strawberries this morning. There
was quite bunch of .holdovers and
with approximately 2,3OO crates re-
ceived this morning berries sold lower
than what the japanese growers are
receiving for them is Florin, Cal.
"Oversupply and the high cost of
sugar are the principal reasons given
ior the present conditions, as the
berries are cheap enough for the
opening season. Yesterdays berry
receipts cleaned up as low as SITS
per crate and fresh deliveries were
quoted as low as $3.50, which is the
price received by the F'lorin growers.
brokerage, express charges and cart
age bring the cost to the jobber a lit
Tie more than $4.OO per crate"
These conditions make the Union
contract for the sale of field run and
Gull berries to the National Canning
company of Seattle look mighty good
70 Manager Krug. This contract
calls for fob. price of Is cents a
pound for culls and II cents for field
:. run and the canning company allows
.ne grower 80, cents for his crate.
according to Mr.. Krug this means
'nat the members of the Union have
IN absolute guarantee equivalent to
So'oS crate for their berries. He
says field run berries will average IL
pounds per crate. At II cents pound
'aey will bring $3.50 per crate. To
'iils should be added 80 cents for the
sfate, 30 cents for packing and 10
vents brokerage charge for selling or
ne equivalent of $3.50 for a packed
crates. -
another feature which offers some
feilef IS the Unions new cold storage
:, pant which was given it's first tryout
sns afternoon. This gives the Union
facilities for preceding 6 cars daily
saa y will enable it to ship to more
Instant markets provided more salts
sactory prices can be obtained. 1t is
Ne Unions intention to precool every
Nste of berries before shipment.
J, while the asparagus market is on
1e decline the fob. price is still $1.1O