The Mena weekly star., 1922-01-19
GRAPES AND BERRIES
MARKETING AGENCIES DEHYDRATING AND PRE- SERVING FRUIT FACTORIES TO REDUCE FREIGHT RATES PRESIDENT OZARK vINEY ARD ASSOCIATION URGES FRUIT GROWERS MENA TO PLANT GRAPES.

most eXcluSlVe SOcleLy---aTu LO the improvement of both the health and temperament of the ''better clement
 Do you know what has cost to pop ularize some of the fruits, not with tbe dealers, but the actual consum- CTS? One-sixth of one cent per pack age-and by this it is not meant the 5-cent package of "Sun-Maid" raisins, but "Sun- Kissed" oranges, etc.
 Does the consuming public know that the Arkansas grown Concord grape has a flavor all it's own? That it is less tart than the northern or eastern grown grape of the same va- riety, and that it's cellular structure or pulp is less tough? That it does not have that "slick' feeling in the eating?
 Then there are the newer methods of dehydration which must be brought into use. If the statistcis are to be relied upon which indicate that 52 per cent of our total fruit and truck products are annually lost because of market glut and other causes, then, Arkansas, because of distance from large consuming markets and lack of proper storage and preserving meth ods, must lose nearly 70 per cent of her products of this character. Do you realize what dehydration means !? II means the reduction of bulk over canned goods so that one car will haul what would otherwise take ten. No icing necessary, no danger of freezing. Imagine the saving in stor- age and freight costs. Cheap cartons take the place of expensive tins and labels. There is a dehydrating sys- tenn that is adaptable to the individ- ual farmers use or for community or association plants. What is dehy- dration? Modern dehydration is re- moving the moisture or water from fruits and vegetables without destroy ing the cellular structure, so that when water is added before cooking, it returns almost to it's natural state.
 It is up to us, as fruit growers, to initiate few things in our own be- half. The agricultural bloc," the secretary of agriculture, and Papa Harding, all seem to be doing their utmost these days, but the old saying is that you can't legislate money into mems pockets nor morals into their beings.
 If, as we anticipate, there are fav- orable fruit crop prospects for this year, l personally should like to see a movement started for a general fruit growers organization along the lines indicated. I know that the Ar kansas newspaper men will give en- thusfastic help in the way of public ity. They are always patriots where the community welfare is concerned.
 There is now in existence a market ing organization which has been piv- ing our growers very good service. It is the Ozark Fruit Growers Associa- tlon, with headquarters at Monet, Mo. This association's organization ex- tends to the principal markets both north and south. It gives better service than could be had thru a small local association, because the expense or such service would be so heavy as to eliminate all possibility of profit. We shall use this service this season. but 70 per cent of our growers in an organisation could make this organi- gatlon its servant, if desirable.
 | IS needless to recite that growers aeting together, with a perfected market information bureau, cannot only avoid the overlooking of mar Asts pF alFerHng ears Tn transit, but with the control of the available crop thye can also control prices. It is not then what will you give, but what our price is. By all means the focal society, but only to meet local needs. The big things must be handled in large way by the general association, making possible efficiency and distributing the overhead ex- pense.
 The way to resume is to resume. n If MT. St. John and our other editors would undertake to invite discussion, and also designate someone w;fb whom those interested might file then. names and give their views. it could easily be determined if the sen .:iment was for such general organ iaat:on.
 f. 5. Harrington, President Ozark
 Vineyard Ass. Gravette. Ark. i.