The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-02-25
Pineapple Industry
Better off Than Fruit
Packing on Mainland

Lower prices for canned fruits are
expected on the mainland. The can
ners have stores on hand packed when
sugar was high and labor scarce and
highly paid and merchants have
stocks on their shelves which will not
nov at the prices that were demand
ed. As a result the fruit growers face
small demand for their chops and
merchants and packers must take a
loss before they can clear their ware
houses and make for new goods.
Hawaii will feel the effect of that
situation in it's pineapple industry.
The Island pine packers did not
boost prices but middlemen and
merchants did. But Hawaii pine grow
ers do not face SO gloomy a situation
as do the mainland fruit growers. In
a recent number of Pacific Rural Press
an article appearde written by w. S.
|Killingsworth entitled "a Cloud in
the Fruit Growers Horizon decided
pessimistic in one
Excerpts from the article are of in
terest in Hawaii and follow:
Now, in order that We might famil-
iarzie ourself with conditions as they
exist at the present time, and of any
change that might take place in the
near future that will ten to relieve
the situation, we consulted R. G. Spen-
Ger. Organization Manager of the Cali
fornia Cooperative Canneries. This
organization being / Indirect touch
with h growers, we wished to know
if they were familiar with existing
conditions, and if they were in sym
pathy with a movement to place the
| nrOanivatinn'c nopE ON tho market in
a by which it might be dis
posed of at a nominal loss if condi-
lions demanded it. In answer to this,
Mr.. Spencer said: 1--WE shall consider
1t one of our first duties to give the
growers exact information regarding
market conditions as they affect their
business. With this thought in mind
we are opening a campaign through
out the Northwest and Central Cali
fornia fruit districts. We want the
growers of canning fruits to know
just what condition the industry is
in, what the future promises, and
what can be done to solve the prob
lens which are presented"
What is your candid opinion as to
the future? Measured by present
conditions" said Mr.. Spencer, "the
future is anything but bright. Cannery
warehouses throughout the State are
filled with the unsold fruit packed
during the past season. This fruit was
purchased from the growers at the
] highest price ever paid. 1t was packed
= in syrup made from sugar costing as
!, high as 25 cents per pound, the aver
age price for the season being in
the neighborhood of 20 cents. The
wages paid under the regulation of
the State Welfare Commission were
advanced over previous years. In
fact, practically every item of cost
was at the highest point, making the
total cost of the finished product far
beyond any figures heretofore known"
Prices Fall Suddenly
Who was responsible for he high
prices that prevailed for canning
fruits-was it the grower, on account
of prevailing prosperity, or the can
ners themselves? 1.-The opening prices
of the leading interests" said Mr..
Spencer, (which dominates the indus
try at the present time, were sharply
advanced over the previous year, and
with a hair volume of business prom
ised the prospects early in the sum.
mer We're for another prosperous veal
for both tanners and fruit growers
II IlO"tNtl, lleSe COuulllOuS ChdLSSu III
the late summer almost over night.
Prices of various commodities began
to fall. Credits were sharply re
stricted. Eastern industries curtailed
their operations and closed their fac
tories.
Buyers cancelled orders or rejected
shipments without conjunction. AS
result of these chaotic conditions esti
mates of the surplus unsold stocks
vary from 5000, 900 to $780, 600 cases
or more than a whole seasons output
before the war;"
In your opinion do you believe that
the surplus, or any great portion OF
it, can be moved at the present
prices? mo; one fact is patiently
clear" said Mr.. Spencer. prices can
l not be maintained and the goods NOV
ed. The people of this country have
stopped buying canned peaches at &c
cents per can. The anner who have
not moved the bulk of their product
must take heavy losses on their high
priced fruit, packed with high-pricet
sugar and high-priced labor"