Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-08-15
Virginia Apple Growers to Have
State Inspected Fruit
by Carter w. Wormeley)

Richmond, Va ,July-Kecently
an enthusiastic meeting OF fruit
lgrowers was held at Harrison
burg for the purpose Of adopting
means by which the markets for
Virginia apples can be restored.
1t is an indisputable fact that
tile markets of Virginia apples,
especially, in the South, have
largely been lost through the
| marketing of inferior apples
frequently dishonesty branded.
By a unanimous vote it was de-
lcided that the plan of Stan
darized, state-inspected pack
as adopted two years ago i'll
Frederick County will be taken
as basis to stardardize the
pack throughout the State OF
Virginia. The inspection work
is done under the direction of r.
Earl Parsons of the State Di-
vision of Markets, and the Ex-
tension Service together with
the State Horticulture Society
are organizing local associations
for grading and packing.
Virginia is facing a crisis in
the apple industry. Unless the
pack of apples is improved and
placed on a basis which will
guarantee to the buyer an honest
and reliable pack there is grave
danger that the markets for Va.
apples will be DESTROYED to such
an extent as to be serious blow to
the future OF the apple industry.
Our only hope is to place upon
the market a standard pack I'M
which the buyers will have con.
fidence.
Under the plan which has|
been very successful in Frederick
County, the growers join a local.
association aud guarantee toI
pack their apples in accordancel
with the standardized grades.
State inspectors are provided
who inspect each day in tlIeI
orchards as the apples are pack
ed and those apples passing thel
inspection are stencilled with |
the official stamp of Virginia,
showing that such apples l1aveI
met the requirements of tIel
specified grade, The result in |
Frederick County, has been that
the buyers are now demanding
the state-inspected fruit only.
Arrangements are being made
to provide for Federal inspection
in addition to State inspection i'll
desired.
A Trades Committee composed
of H. F. Byrd, chairman, E. M
Wayland, and E. D. Nininper,
was appointed for the purpose of
advertising Virginia apples. and
especially to advise the buyers of
the movement now in progress in
Virginia for the improvement of
the pack. Letters are now being
sent out to all of the buyers,
especially in the South, advising
them of this movement so that
they can have this information
when looking around for their
requirements this fall. 1t isl
further expected to take full
page advertisements in the New
York Packer, the Fruitman ;
Guide, and other periodicals,
giving list of the growers who
will have standardized, state-iu-
spected apples for sale.
Already a most favorable re-
spouse has been secured through 1
out the State and it is expected
that not less than 100000
barrels of apples will be state
inspected under the standardized
grades this year. The cost of
advertising will be prorated by
small cost per barrel and will be
collected throughout the local
communities and included in the
cost OF the inspection. This will
|be fully explained by those in
charge of the local organizations
that will be established through
| out the State to care for this
work. No fruit growers in Vir-
GINA can afford not to join this
movement. The very salvation
| of the apple industry of Virginia
/ is at stake. 1t is imperative thai,
we place upon the market a
statewide pack of honestly
branded apples, and thus regain
/ the markets already lost and
establis a reputation for Vir-
/ GINA apples which is justly de-
served but wIIich has been
tsar;ouelv lowered through a