Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-03-18
EAST MICHIGAN. FRIDAY. MARCH Is, 1921
Must Sell
Their Products
Or Stop Production Says Petos-
key Canning Go. Official.

The below article relative to the con-
dition Of the Petoskey Canning Com.
pany appeared this week in the Grand
Rapids News. AS the matter of can
ming plant for East Jordan has received
considerable attention by our citizens,
this article is OF interest.
1.-THE Petoskey Canning and Preser-
wing company's plant will be unable to
run under any capacity this season un'
less two-thirds OF the company unsold
last years output, now stacked in the
local warehouse, is disposed OF by June
l." states Parker T. Frey, of Petoskey.
He asserts the bulk of the output,
which is left on the company's hands,
consisting OF fruits and vegetables,
could be roughly estimated at about
$4,000.
Mr.. Frey, who is secretary-treasurer,
general manager and largest stockhold-
er in the Petoskey Canning and Pre-
serving company, claims that the con-
Germ, in 1919, canned II tons of fruit
and vegetable products. In 1920 the
plant canned nearly 200 tons of fruits
and vegetables. He also reported that
plans had been under way, for some
time, for utilizing food products other
than agricultural, which, if materializ-
ed, meant no cessation of work through
the winter months at the Petoskey
plant.
Heretofore the entire supply Of can
ned fruits and vegetables man ufactur-
ed by the local concern were disposed
VI In reasonable time" said Manager
frey, "Dut ii is the general belief that
the slump in sugar is one of the princi-
pal reasons for the define ON canned
goods at present.
One hundred and ninety-three tons
OF the 200 tons canned last year were
cherries OF the choicest quality; and
$4,000 cases OF string beans. 1t was
planned to can in the 1921 run 10000
cases each of beets, squash, pumpkin,
and small fruit, in addition to their reg
ular output OF the factory.
Twice as large an acreage as has
been contracted for in previous years
was already secured for the 1921 sea-
son. So far 320 acres were available,
and apportioned thusly: 200 acres
string beans, 40 acres OF beets, 40
acres squash and 40 acres pumpkin.
Unless the above mentioned unsold
goods are sold by June /, Mr.. Frey said
that all contracts with farmers would
be declared void at that time.
Manager Frey relates that while on
a business visit to Chicago, Cincinnati,
and Detroit recently string beans, to.
matoes, corn and all small fruits were
selling at 20 per cent and more below
cost to manufacture, and that one lot
OF string beans, which he had sold for
iuture orders $2.25 per dozen No.
cans, were rejected on account OF price
with buyers label thereon and was
forced to sacrifice same at 80 cents a
dozen.
Gamers are willing to go without
profit if they can only get manufactur'
ers' cost" continued Mr.. Frey, land
we believe if the wholesaler and retail
er would do likewise, there would be
more canned goods sold; whereas the
wholesaler and retailer are still holding
up high prices; for instance the selling
OF tomatoes at 25 a can which could be
sold by them for Is cents and still allow
them Is per cent profit on each can. /"
Manager Parker T. Frey of the Pet
oskey Canning and Preserving COM
pany, is considered an authority in the
canning business. For several years
he was manager of the w. r. Roach &
Co. canning plant, Kansas City, manu-
facturers of the Hart Brand goods.
His father, E. S. Frey, was formerly
general manager of the same concern
and is now head of the Michigan Can
ned Foods company with headquarters
IN Book building, Detroit.
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