The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-02-18
GAMERS AND GROWERS
% DISCUSS PROBLEMS
Tomato Men VIII Name Committees
70 Outline Agreement For Next
Season. Situation IS Held DeIt-
cate.

College Park, Md, Feb. "a de
tcrmined effort to save the valuable
tomato growing industry of Mary
land through some form of practical
| agreement between growers and can
ners is to be made in q Forthcoming
meeting Of committees representing
the Maryland Agricultural Society
and the Tri-State Gamers Associa-
ton.
Harry Makes Announcement
This announcement was made today
By D. G. Harry, president of the
Maryland Agricultural Society, in
making, known the personnel of the
committee to represent that organ1-
zation and the interests of the grow
ers. A similar committee is to be
appointed by William Silver, of
: Aberdeen, president of the Tri-StatC
/ Gamers Association, and the two
! groups it is said, will hold their
! first meeting at an early date.
J. E. Patten, Dorchester county;
/ 4. G. Ensor, Hartford county, ana c.
! C. Gelder, Somerset county, will COM
post the growers committee. A
small committee has been chosen, 1t
| is stated, because of the conviction
| that greater results will be accom-
plished by three men who can attend
frequent meetings and give careful
consideration to the delicate situa-
ton.
In one important respect the con-
ference will be different from for
mer efforts which packers and grow
ers have made to reach a mutually
satisfactory understanding. 1t will
be confined to Maryland representa-
tives whereas other conferences have
included other States in the tomato
growing section.
Speaking OF the proposed confer
ence, DR.. Thomas B. Symons, director !
OF the University of Maryland Exten-
sion Service, today said that It is the
general belief that the future Of the
tomato industry in Maryland rests on
the measure of real cooperation that
will develop between packers and |
growers.
The problem resolves Itself,
said DR.. Symons, into a reduction OF
the acreage formerly devoted to
tomato growing and to greatly in
creasing the yield per acre. This
concerns the grower. On the part OF
the packer there must be a reduction
In costs, which will mean lower price
for tinplate, machinery and other eS-
scntials.
Both growers and Gamers must
cooperate to meet the problem CT
decreased consumption Despite
the large stocks Of canned tomatoes
which the Government has placed on
the market at low prices. it is
question whether the consumption
Of canned tomatoes has not decreased
during the past three years as a re-
action resulting from high prices
during the war 1t will be necos-
sary for both growers and Gamers
to stand together to increase con-
sumption by pointing out to the pub
lie the value of tomatoes and tomato
juice from a dietetic standpoint.
1T is obvious, however, that to in
duce the public to eat canned to1a-
toes the product must be placed OF
the market at a reasonable price.
But this price must be sufficient to
give the farmer a reasonable profit
and return to the Gamer a fair per-
centage on his investment and for
his service. This is the problem
which the two committees must solve
and it should engage the best minds
of both business and farming ele-
ments Of the population. The toma-
to crop tin years past has been n
splendid money crop for the State
and Maryland should maintain Its
leadership in the production of this
important food product"