Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1924-02-08
Berry Growers Are
Signing Members

When we organized our Fruit
Marketing Association last spring
we, as members, signed up for one
year with the option of with
drawal at the end of the season.
One hundred and twenty-seven
berry growers responded to our
efforts and we became the Nashon
Marketing Association.
Although a good many condi-
tons were against us, such as
uncertain market conditions, very
bad weather in July, making our
cane berries soft and almost mn
marketable, we feel more than sat
isfied with the results as a whole.
Certainly occasional mistakes
were made, short weights in some
instances, lost receipts, and other
minor errors, but on the whole
the amounts of errors in dollars
and cents was very small.
We are approaching another
season with market conditions
little changed except perhaps IN
the case of strawberries, the price
having advanced in this commod-
ity.
Several buyers are in the field
trying TO buy strawberries and
strawberries only, leaving the
grower to dispose of the remain
der of his fruit as best he can.
At the present time there seems
little or no cash market for our
Logans, raspberries etc. and we
certainly know better than to try
10 dispose of these on commission
row. What then shall we do with
our berries?
The Association has an offer in
hand from a large and absolutely
reliable canning concern to coop
crate with them in our disposing
of all varieties of berries for this
season. A cash price of consider
ably more than enough to cover
all picking and. marketing TX
penses is advanced to the grower,
weekly, with other cash advances
as the finished product is sold.
Take Strawberries for instance.
A cash price of six cents per lb.
at picking time, the next three
cents to the grower and a $3.50
split with the camery on any sell
ling price above nine cents per lb.
Last year under the same contract
our final settlement was well with
in go days from our last shipment.
For the benefit of those growers
who prefer to take a straight cash
price at shipping time, we have
about completed a deal whereby
they can get Sc. cash for straw
berries over and above all associa-
ton expenses. But it is my firm
belief that we will never get what
is coming to us unless we cooper
ate with some reliable canning
company and share in their profit
or loss.
Some individuals think that
they can make more money FROM
their berries by playing lone wolf,
without realizing that the associa
ton keeps prices up and makes the
buyer pay as much or more for the
individual crop. This is one Of
their methods of breaking assoc
iationS.
Who of us. planting a field Of
berries, expects TO make a prof
the first year? If we as an assn
have not shown you the profit o.
returns you expected, do not
blame us too much, Our efforts
have been at least honest and
above board. There are some
changes that we will make thi3
year that we think will be of ben
eft to the assn, some mistakes Of
last season that will not occur
again So let MS have q 100 per Ell.
strong association, each one work
ing for the benefit of himself and
the association.
DO not expect the Gamers 10
take your rotten cverripe fruit,
Give good and expect better. On
ly in this spirit can we hope TO
;ucceed and look for "A time in the
future when the buyer win come
to us and say, How much do You
want for your fruitY'
If You want to JOIN us, call me
up and | will gladly come with
our contract and sign with you.
ELMER HARM ELlNG,
Member Board of Directors.