The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-12-06
Annual Meeting of Three
Rivers Growers Is
Most Harmonious
HIRING MANAGER
LEFT TO DIRECTORS
Change in Berry Grades and
Warehousing Contract
Only Request

Not since the cooperative market
=. 81 the early crops of this district
=. frst attempted. has there been
r,ore harmonious meeting of grow
. .. than the annual meeting of the
Ss,ch was held Monday in the Modern
Inodmen hall. Although the business
Shrse Rivers Growers association
= he day occupied the attention Of
~ growers from mid-forenoon until
-. the discussions were remark
shIv free from criticism and on all
- there was evident satisfaction
M this years operations.
~ annual report covering in de-
IN the marketing of the three crops,
s~neraeus strawberries and early po-
t.fses, prepared by H. p. Physeck,
uubljc accountant, was read by Lee
Il Lampson. sales manager. After
tAe report had been read, Mr.. Lamp
son explained more in detail some
& he transactions and answered
sroVers' questions concerning points
With had not been made entirely
elsar by the accountant.
he report, as has been previously
rsuorted in these columns, showed
fAst the association sold 20,204 crates
q asparagus for $30,825 which net
IA tie growers $1.348 cents per crate;
H997 crates Of Strawberries for
11bo,7SO which netted the growers
la.60 per crate; 1,178 tons Of early
potatoes for $37, ,478 which netted the
growers $26.65 per ton.
The total volume Of business was
$4,000 and the total expenses were
$4,000, or the associations cost of
doinR business was slightly in excess
IL ten per cent. George Sellick, who
aeted as secretary in the absence OF
secretary VIM. Purdy, pointed out
Tt this is a low percentage in view
Il the fact that the association ham
IL products that are very perishable
and must be moved in very limited
time regardless of expense.
The only item of cost which was
called into question was that of $4.S3
ton for handling potatoes. Manager
Ampson and members Of the board
q directors agreed that this cost
y too high. The elimination of the
field man during digging season was
suggested as one means of cutting
down this cost. The feasibility Of this
However, was questioned in view Of
tie fact that potatoes are dug to fill
cara as they are sold and the only
manner in which hurry-up digging or
ders can be given the growers is
that large number of the potato
through the field man, for the reason
growers have no telephone.
The membership voted only two rec
concentrations to the board Of direc-
tors. By a vote Of % to 81 they
vent on record in favor of two grades
10Y strawberries instead of one and
sney requested a modification Of the
Warehousing contract with the Ken
newlck Supply & Storage company.
ms is three-year contract but car
mes q provision that it may be chang
= at this time upon the request Of
ssner party. There was no criticism
u the Storage company's services
nus year but it was suggested that
0 warehouse charges should be
nade upon sliding scale based on
qasntity rather than a flat per pack
aee basis.
20 he I'd that the associations
euauol OF the three crops might be
q further extended and marketing
pilfied President Jos. Gerard was
saorlzed to name a committee of
s1ee to confer with the management
u the "Big-Y" and request that it
s%continue the marketing of straw
St.ies and asparagus. T. j. Chal-
George Sellick and C. C. Will
asms. all of whom are "Big-Y" MEM
s.were named on this committee.
=. Wexler, of Pasco, the largest
ly grower in this district was re-
S.e'ted to discuss the labor problem.
IL Wexler said one of the greatest
ssmoralizing = factors was the failure
growers to stick to prices for pick
.us and packing. He urged that every
n.ower stick to the schedule agreed
% at the beginning of the season.
q. at no time during the meeting was
80 question of next years sales man
,s ssl mentioned and the board Of di-
;rsrs ;'ors is left free to use its own
tsment in this matter. The con-
iOoa ss with Mr. Lampson was for the
ns;S s marketing season only. He was
upon percentage basis for each
~. 'ne three crop. At the close Of
meeting Mr.. Lampson informed
~ .epreentative of the Courier-Re-
no.;.a er that he is an applicant for the
e;~.u ;,on next year, and that he was
eh the Northwest Hay association