Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-08-17

Every week during their shipping
season the association sends b dele
gate to one or more markets where
their output is being sold. They IN
spect association cars. They mingle
with the statesmen handling their pro-
ducts, the jobbers handling Marietta
vegetables and the retailers.
These delegates learn what the buy
ers and consumers think Of the asso-
citation produce. They hear frank
criticisms Of quality and grade and
pack. They become acquainted with
the methods used in selling. The del
egations report back to the associa-
ton and frequently improvements In
character Of production or methods Of
grading, packing or loading result
from these visits.
Here Is one example Of how the
association has changed its plans to
meet the needs of consumers.
Earliana tomatoes had been grown
by the association members. They
were one of the earliest varieties and
offered an opportunity to get first
shipments on the markets. But the
association became convinced through
its study of its products on the mar
kets that the Earliana was Of lower
quality, as compared with other toma-
toes in the early class, so its planting
was discontinued.
While each member Of the associa-
| ton packs in his own shed the pack
is subject to inspection both at load
ing and unloading points and at
either place it may be placed in a
special pool and sold on it's merits.
Once again the consumer was con-
sidered first in this packing arrange
ment Central packing houses were
discussed but the association feared
that central packing system might
delay the arrival of the produce on
the market and decided to continue
individual packing so that the vege-
tables could be moved more quickly
from the field to the consumer.
Tomatoes picked from the vine Mon
day are often in the hands Of consum-
ers Tuesday. The effect of this
speedy movement is often noticed in
retail establishments where women
ask for the tomatoes with the Pioneer
label on the basket end, because OF
their freshness.
The good reputation earned by the
association pack became q valuable
\ business asset. In 1915 Crutchfeld &
Voolfolk designed the Pioneer trade.
mark and label which they urged the
association to adopt to distinguish
their product readily from that of 9th
er shippers. The trademark was reg
istered and turned over to the asso
citation as association property.
One of the strongest testimonials
to the value of the association meth
DDS particularly as to its plan Of grad
ing and packing and its use Of labels
. is that practically all growers outside
the association in the Marietta dis
trict now try to pack their produce
: according to the bylaws OF the asso
citation. They use the same kind o.
, containers. Some go so far as t
adopt a label Of the same shape, size
and colors as the association label.
1--WE wouldn't consider shipping
produce today without label unles!
, it was produce of inferior quality,
says NJ. G. Nixon, secretary Of the as
: ISOLATION. Association labels ant
y good packing are essentials in ever.
organization Of our kind. They ar
5 Siamese twins. Neither can live with
out the other"
: Every year as the association in
8 creased the volume Of its output tn
Z distributing service increased tn
e number of outlets used In 1919 tn
+ Crutchfield & voolfolk organization
b with other distributing interests an
8 growers organized the American Frui
t Growers Incorporated and founded
national sales service.