Arizona republican., 1922-05-30
SUMMARY Of THE
1921 CANTALOUPE
CROP OF VALLEY

The following review Of the can
taloupe industry in the Salt River
valley. together with report Of the
shipment of last seasons crop, has
Just been made public by Homer A..
Harris, assistant in market surveys
of the United States department of
agriculture, who had an office In
Phoenix during the harvesting and
shipping season:
The cantaloupes produced in the
Salt River valley are all grown in
Maricopa county, Glendale, Mesa,
Phoenix, Alhambra and Gilbert be-
ing the principal shipping points. A
small acreage was grown this year
in the ca sa Grande valley. near Toll
tee. The cantaloupes are planted the
last of March so that shipments will
begin about the first of July, 1t beine
the intention of the shippers to have
Arizona cantaloupes arrive on the
markets after the heavy shipments
from the Imperial valley are over, but
before shipments from the Turlock
section arrive.
The chief trouble the grower has
is attacks from the aphis and rains.
Last yelr, as in 1920, several days
of cloudy weather with high humid
ity so favored the development OF
aphis that the growers were unable
to harvest thousands of crates OF
cantaloupes. Sprays, both liquid ana
dust, seem to be Of some benefit in
controlling the speed of the aphis
but there seemed to be nothing thar
will check them when weather con-
ditions are favorable. Fortunately
there were no rains during the pick
ing season last year.
The chief problems before the ship
pers are distribution and the main
tenance Of quality. Since the ship
ping season Is usually about three
weeks in duration and the cantaloupe
is highly perishable, not admitting
any delay in placing it on the market,
the shippers must and do have
large number of market connections.
Since the novelty has worn off. the
markets are net SO eager to get early
Arizona shipments as they are to get
the early shipments out OF the I'M
perial valley. Competition by ripe
stock from California in nearby mar
kets practically forces all Arizona
shipments to go east OF the ROCKY
mountain s.
To maintain their standards OF
quality the shippers have a force
of inspectors whe inspect the melons
at the loading sheds and in the field.
1t requires constant vigilance to IN
sure uniformity of quality and con-
dition as this aphis damage Is not
always apparent after the cantaloupes
are in the crate, nor can the lndl-
vidual growers ideas OF maturity be
allowed to govern picking, as the mel
on must conform to a general stand
ard over the entire district.
Outside of a few ripe cars sold
locally, there were no sales made at
Phoenix. The shippers consigned
practically all shipments to connec-
tions in the markets. A few cars wer@
sold enroute from the other end. but
shipments were mostly consigned or
billed to the shippers own repre-
sentatives.
The first car Of Arizona canta-
loupes was sold in Chicago, July 8,
at s4.25-$4.50 for standards, S3-$S.2o
for pony crates, and 50 for flats. These
prices were s mewhat above prices
of California stock. but the market
rapidly ,eclined until four days Ia
ter Arizona stock was selling at about
the same price as the best Califor-
MAS. The lowest point was Satur-
day. July 16,, when standard crates
sold at $3-S3.50. Chicago closed July
21 at $325-3.50, with liberal supplies
coming in from Arkansas and lndi-