The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1922-11-17
WHAT SHALL
WE DO TO BE
S AV E u !?

eratire Federation, and was written
by w. F. Gwin:
A crisis has been reached in the in
dustrial life of this community. The
issue is one of life or death.
Northwestern boxed apples are pri-
marily a cold storage produce.
In order to maintain their values
on level affording profit to the pro
ducer, their consumption must be
spread out over long period-11
months-from September to July
They cannot be forced into consump-
tion during the period when apples
from the low-cost district of the east
and middle west are in free supply
without sinking to levels disastrous
to the growers.
Probably $50 of all the standard
varieties Of Wenatchee apples are
bought by the trade with a view to
cold storage.
Suitability for cold storage is
therefore very important element
of value. If this quality is impaired
the loss in value falls directly on the
growers.
In the last analysis, Furthermore,
the delivery to the consumer of the
last apple from the last box of Wine
saps in July, in prime condition. firm.
juicy and good, is the ideal which
must at least approximately be at
tanned if this industry is to prosper.
Likewise, intermediate varieties
Delicious, Spitzenberg, Stayman and
Rome Beauty-which find their prin-
cipal period of consumption during
the winter and early spring months,
must be so handled as to reach the
consumer in crisp, sound juicy con-
dition; not overripe, mealy and taste
less.
Does anyone think that we come
anywhere near the attainment of this
ideal?
How many Delicious and Spitzen-
bergs are there now in this valley
other than the few cars in cold stor-
age-which may honestly be said to
be in prime condition suitable for
cold storage in destination markets?
With the continuation of the car
shortage what will be the condition
of the common storage Delicious.
Spitzenbergs and other intermediate
varieties when they eventually reach
market?
With the market already overfed
and sick of ripe to overripe apples,
what will be the result of the forced
sale of continuous supplies of the
same sort of fruit?
How long will the people of this
community stand by and, without a
struggle, permit the continuance,
each year. of losses by deterioration
Of product, amounting to hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually. when
these losses are strictly preventable
While it is a problem of every man
and woman and child in the whole
community. il is primarily a prob
lena life and death problem, if you
please-of the growers.
Even though the present intoler-
ably inadequate transportation situa-
alton We're improved, tie problem
would still exist to a degree still de-
manding solution.
THE CONSTRUCTION.OF COLD
STORAGE PLANTS BY ORGANIZ-
ED GROUPS OF GROWERS
SEEMS TO Us IMPERATIVE.
If these plants were to be located
at various strategic points throrgA-
ept the producing district of No~tt
Central Washington. and wer- INTO
ligently used for keeping the unshi2-
ped or unshippable sulpl.s of al Va
ricties beginning with Jorat an, in
prime conditions from tie time tie
Fruit is taken from the trees. we be
Heve MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
VALUE would be conserved to this
community which would otherwise be
indeed. IS BEING TOTALLY
LOST.
These losses 90 far beyond thai
immediate face value; tie reputation
If our products is being Impaired. i
this Is continued tie industry viii
receive a setback that will be beyond
all calculation.
What is needed IS LEADERSHIP
cooperative ORGANIZATION an
ACTION.
The construction of grower-owned
and grower controlled cold storage
plants is financially feasible through
group action by growers. We know
Of no other way in which they can or
will be provided Make no mistake;
they will not be provided by CONNER
cial interests.
One unit of the Wenatchee-O Okan-
ogan Cooperative Federation, with
admirable foresight and courage. ha,
already provided its members with q
splendid cold storage plant with ca