Imperial Valley press., 1923-02-24
VALLEY LETTUCE
GROWERS DRAFT
STANDARD BILL
John O'Brien Submits
Arguments for New
Lettuce Bill s
WANT TWO CRATES
Would Limit Ice Packed
2. in Crate to 30 Lbs,
Correct Marking
WANT TWO CRATES

The draft OF Il bill designed TO
standardize lettuce shipments ard
control packs, was discussed at
length at Il meeting of growers held
at Brawley last night with a large
representation OF producers and
packers in attendance. The draft
was adopted unanimously after the
discussion and will be presented at
the adjourned session of the legisla-
ture next month by Assemblyman
George A. Davis.
The proposed bill provides that
lettuce shall be designated as
"Headed Lettuce" and "Not Head
ed Lettuce and SO marked Oil the
containers. Headed lettuce shall
mean compactness of texture, such
that the heads will be firm and the
firm portion of the head when under
leaves are removed shall not be less
than 10 inches III circumference
when measured around widest por-
ton of the head between butt and
top. All lettuce that does not con-
form to specifications of Headed
Lettuce shall be designated as
''Not Headed Lettuce.
All lettuce packed under provis-
len of the act shall be conspicuously
marked in letters not less than one
half inch III height with the exact
number of heads or pieces contained
in the crate. All lettuce shall be
packed tight, with slight bulge
W hen lidded, and crates shall be suf
ficicntly filled to prevent the move
ment of the product in the same and
shall not contain more than 80
pounds Of ice.
Presents Arguments i-r
John 0 Brian presented the fol-
lowing brief On explanation of the
proposed Standardization of the
lettuce industry, which sets forth
THE reasons therefore from the view
POINT of large shipper who has.
made a. careful study of the stu
alton in all of its phases:
''The purpose of the proposed let !
tuee Standardization is twofold-the
Improvement and development OF.
tho lettuce industry. BY standard Il
izing the lettuce crate and limiting.
the amount Of ice to be used in
packing same we will improve the
pack and produce better and more
easily marketable commodity. ByH
the establishment of definite des
criptivc terms or designations of the
lettuce to be packed and shipped
from the valley we will develop the
industry through building up repu-
tation for consistent quality and a
subsequent demand for this pro.
duet: all of which will react to the
ultimate financial success and bene-
fit to the Imperial Valley.
Urges Both Crates
"The purpose of standardizing
the lettuce crate is important and
such Standardization should permit
the utilization of both styles, OF
crates now used, namely: the Los
Angeles crate and the Brawlcy
crate. The fact that there is only
rs to | l-S inch difference in the
inside dimensions of the Los An.
geles crate as compared with the
Rrawley crate should have no par
ticular bearing on the size or amount
of lettuce packed in either crate.
"The Los Angeles crate has moth
ing to do with size or number Of
the heads of lettuce packed in said
crate, as this difference in space is
not sufficient to allow of more
heads in the Brawley crate than in
the Los Angeles one, provided the
same method of packing and not
more than 30 pounds of ice is used
in either crate. Actual demonstra
tion has proven this. Therefore the
of the lettuce crate
will permit the use of either crate
and will not neeessitate any change
in the present sizes of these crates.
sa Proper Marking #
"The designation of lettuce as
Headed Lettuce and mot
Headed Lettuce will in no way