The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-03-19
LAMPSON TELLS
ABOUT HIS TRIP
Investigates Markets for
Kennewick's Early Crops
Berries Best Known

In accordance with your request,
/ am giving you summary of the
which I gathered on my
trip made at the request of the Board
of Directors. The purpose of the trip
was to find out if we were operating
thru the best marketing connections
in the markets where We have been
selling and to develop new markets
in other places, particularly for as
paragus.
After pretty thoro study of the
strawberry markets in Montana, the
DaNotas and Canada 1 feel certain
that We could market two or three
times as many Strawberries as we
have without any material effect on
the price. Our experience in taking
care of the big production in 1928
also indicated that there were quite
a number of good markets for our
Strawberries which we ordinarily are
unable to supply. In the territories
mentioned above our Strawberries
are already well and favorably known
In regard to asparagus, find that
in Montana we are gradually being
crowded out of the markets by as
paragus consigned directly Or indi-
rectly by the independent seller. and
in Canada the markets are supplied
by Walla Walla grass which is ship
ped in mixed cars with other veget-
ables. While our asparagus is little
earlier, and we think it is little
better quality, the Canadian buyers
are not convinced after handling both
that there is enough difference to in
terest them except on a few small
shipments prior to the time the Walla
Walla grass is ready.
In the central west and eastern
markets where We have been selling
carlots and have got our asparagus
established find a much more en-
couraging situation. While most of
the buyers who have handled our
grass readily agree that it is first
class quality and are willing to hand
lie more if we will put it up in the
way they want it, they are not, as
his been stated, "clamoring" for our
produce. In fact, most of them are
crowded with green farm produce
in increasing quantities every year
from the south and southwestern
states, particularly. Some of the
large houses complimented our aspar-
gus by saying that it was about as
good as Texas and Nevada were ship
ing. Most of them, however, say
they are only getting shipments from
their other territories in limited
quantities at the present time and
they can use more of the quality of
asparagus that We have if they can
depend upon the grade and it is put
up In attractive packages.
In nearly all of the markets which
l visited where we had not previous
" sold 3-River Growers asparagus,
was able to interest buyers in green
asparagus shipped in April, but al
most invariably they pointed out that
commencing from the first to Is
of May, depending upon weather con-
ditions their market was very heavily
supplied with eastern asparagus.
pointed out that other markets which
had been using our grass considered
it higher quality than eastern grass.
Those who. have handled both our
grass and eastern grass agree readi-
ly that our quality is better but many
of them state that there is not
enough difference to warrant a high
price at shipping point and a long
haul, and in some cases, they said
pointedly they doubted the possible
ty of our getting into those markets
after local grass came on. This is
not altogether discouraging condi-
ton even for our late asparagus but
it rather indicates that as both our
supply and the supply in the east in
creases we may have to shorten our
season and be satisfied with a five
or six weeks harvest at q good price
and not attempt to harvest much af-
ter eastern grass begins to fill the
eastern markets.