Smyrna times., 1925-08-26
TOMATO GAMERS FACING BIG
CRISIS ASSEMBLE AT EASTON
0,,cr Of CANNED GOODS DROP
rST As PROSPECT WAS GOOD
n;s.nssion Takes Place in Which
T. Was Shown That Only Quality
= pscks Would Help Solve Situation

packs Would Help Solve Situation
Gamers from all over the State
= delaware and on the Eastern
q Shore of Maryland and some from
baltimore attended an interesting
1,ooting in New Theatre at Easton,
Nd Yesterday afternbon,to discuss the
canned tomato industry. Ralph o.
nIany of the firm of John H. Du-
lorv and Son, Fruitland, Md, was Sc
la,tad as chairman, and J. Frank Led
man Of the firm of ]. Frank Ledman
and Company, Preston, Md, secretary.
Walter B. Timms, of New York, ad-
dressed the meeting on the desirable
;tv and necessity of producing the
yerv best quality of canned tomatoes
nossible this season. With the low
price of today, the speaker said, quail
nv pack was the solution to the situ-
alton. The packers were very much
interested and took part in the discus
sions. They displayed a decided Op-
timistic spirit in reference to the fu-
ture control of the market. About
225 Gamers attended and long before
the hour for the meeting they were
gathered in groups about the theatre
discussing the outlook for canned to-
matoes. The meeting was called for
all the tomato Gamers of Delaware
and the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
owing largely to the critical situation
that has risen in marketing their can
ned goods. Farmers and Gamers at
the beginning of the year had every
prospect of a successful season, but
now just about the time the canning
houses were ready to open, the market
has dropped and the Gamers are
caught with high priced raw tomatoes
to be sold to a low priced market.
Following the prevalent custom of
trading, Gamers began selling "fu-
lures last January and February.
The opening prices were based on a
price Of soc to 95c a dozen for No. 2
size can and these prices ruled with
slight fuctuation until August 10.
Gamers in the spring contracted with
the farmers for tomatoes at 25c to 3Oc
basket, and believed that at the
market price of 90c a dozen they
could realize only small profit. Dur
ing the week of August 10,before can
mng was under way, the market price
dropped from 9Oc to SOC per dozen.
such market decline from a close
10 cost price Immediately before can
nlng has never occurred before. Can
ners say that this decline in price is
mol due to prospects Of an extraordin-
anly large pack, because the crop is
Just entering its most hazardous
period, and the size of the pack, there
lore, remains in doubt for a while;
out even if there should be a large
YIELD the pack cannot be as great, ac-
cofdlng to an authority on the sub
!ect' from the present acreage as it
mas been in other years when no such
decline occurred before canning.
vide FluctuatiOn in Price Blamed
Some of the trade journals and 9TH
er observers think the decline in price
= Gue to the unwillingness of grocers
~ Ouy at any price, and that this at
I.ude Of merchants is caused by the
VIDE huctuation in the price of the
eafry over. The publicity of this de-
.nne IN price and the comments of
1aue journals have convinced leading
tauners = and commission houses that
Ne Gamers should do what thev can
" Ielnstate themselves and their pro-
NJ Tr''S IN the minds of their customers.
lAs meeting as above stated was ad
yed Ie5Sed by Walter B. Timms, of New
O,A' Who is one Of the best informed
1lu most prominent men in the can
L'u goods business. He was former
": y member of the firm of Austin.
.,iIiiOlS Wv d Co., Inc, the largest whole
- sale gfocers in the world, and is now
..; ..e dc'ive New York partner in War
nniigton, Iimms & Co., leading canned
sy sOUuS brokers. This meeting was
Uaiieu to save the situation, and as
hos, ~s expected, nearly every canning
ro1 ,Yaae IN Maryland and Delaware was
~ PRESENTED. If the confidence of the
aSa' aSoic can be restored and the truth
Vbo. me conditions as they exist be
,ao'. ,'y"n tne buyers the farmers will
Il tl1e +I tne present prices of tomatoes.
ers VIZ n.,,, 9''uatlon is not saved the grow
tbo ~ VIII suffer by a great reduction in
NM % psce Of tomatoes. Gamers can
mats rs alofd to pay high prices for to-
e1a.,3 s.oeS Il the market is not strong
enough to meet it.
tomato Gamers in Two States
/, mere i1 are over 400 tomato Gamers
a. maryland and Delaware. cannnig
ON annual oon average pack of about g.
70 s,g 1gV cases, worth from $12,OOO,O 900
tSi' iy-O'OOOOOO each year. The pack
WEI year may exceed 100000 cases
sn ~ =. 'ne prices based on soc per doz-
m.to9 IJl NO. size most of them will
as.. a.aln considerable loss. MANY Of
and g are not able to stand this loss.