Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-11-28
GROWERS MUST
COOPERATE TO
help EXCHANGE
President Of the Citrus Ex-
change Sees Bright Future
for Citrus Growers Of the
Valley

III the citrus growers Of the Valley
will cooperate with the Citrus ENchangs
to the same extent the dealers have
there can be no doubt of the future
of the citrus fruit industry in the Low
er Rio Grandc Valley" was the state
mcnt made this morning by J. A. Hex
man. president Of the Citrus Exchange
MIR. Hickman recently returned from
Houston and San Antonio and reports
that in both cities the demand for Rio
Grande Valley citrus exceeds the sup
ply. and announced that the Exchange
products were bringing a premium on
bith markets over the shipments from
California and Florida. Two cars OF
Valley grape fruit have been ordered
by San Antonio dealers from the Ex-
change. this being the largest single
shipment going TO that city from the
Valley this year.
Mr.. Hickman found that the uniform
pack and guaranteed quality of the
valley Sweet" products shipped from
the Harlingen packing plant met the
unqualified approval Of the dealers IN
both cities. and liberal premium ls
bcirg offered Products packed and sold
by the Exchange are bringing a far bet
ter price than these sold independently,
the dealers declaring that no matter
how carefully the independent shipper
may pack his fruit. il is never co uni
form as that mechanically graded and
packed. Independent shipments to the
Houston and San Antonio markets have
been selling at around $500 per box,
whereas Exchange citrus haSsbeen sell
ina nj Sf0o TO $500. netting the grow
er Scllinc through the Exchange ap-
proximatcly e8.e0 per box.
Houston dealers also reported that
some Of the fruit Sh pped independent
ly was not up TO standard and result
cd in arousing some criticism of Val
ley citrus among consumers. The Ex-
change citrus. which is gathered by ex-
perienccd pickers. mechanically graded
aud packed. has given perfcst satisfac-
tion. and consumers are rapidly learn
ing that the VALLEY Sweet" trade
mark is the synonym of quality Plans
are now being, made to mark every ind
vdual fruit turned out by the packing
plsnt. Mr.. Hickman stated An ---.ordex
that consumers may br-sSsurcd or Sc
curing VALLEY Sweet" quality.
Several carloads of uaripc grape
fruit was shipped to the Houston mar
ket recently from Florida and three
or four carloads were refused by the
Houston dealers. Later some of thu
fruit was placed on the market as
Rio Grandc Valley product. and the
bitter tang Of the fruit was the sub
NJ -.
who were not aware of the deception
practiccd upon, them. This also was
factor contributing to the general de
mand Tor the fruit bearing the Wal
ley Sweet" trade mark.
THE Valley citrus industry has
great future IL our growers will con
fine themselves principally to the pro-
duction Of grapefruit and Valencia
navel oranges" Mr.. Hickman sad "The
Valley occupies strategic position
which makes these fruits particularly
profitable. California cannot raise
good quality Of grapefruit. That fact is
generally conceded: and the Florida
growers cannot raise good quality oi
vsvel orange. The Rio Grande Valley
can produce grapefruit and nav.' or
anccS ot thc finest quality. We can sell
grapefruit right mt The front door ii
California because Florida cannot -itI-
tete with u on account of the frriph
rates, and We can market the atyci
orange right in Florida territorv. Lc-
causc The rates maze the California
fruit practically prob bitive. In other
words the Valley stands right bctwccn
Florida and California aud can produce
""crything those sections can, whereas
they are compelled to adhere to certain
varieties
MIR. Hickman is greatly pleased with
the success Of the Exchange in open
ing markets and establishing a stand
ard for the Valley. and expressed the
opinion that by the time the Valley
citrus crop attains such proportions a,
TO make che Valley n serious compcti.
tor for the citrus sections of California
and Florida every grower in the Val.
ley will be n member and the VALLEY
Sweet trademark viii be on PRACTICAL
ly all fruit leaving the Valley