Evening star., 1926-11-26
HUGE APPLE CROP
POORLY MARKETED
Hundreds of Thousands of
Bushels Not to Be Picked
Due to Low Price.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.


NEW YORK, November 26.-Esti'
mates of the apple crop of the
country are growing constantly. They
have now reached total of approx
mately 265, 900 900 bushels. But the
amount to be stored for Winter use
viii not be as large as this crop would
ordinarily indicate, because hundreds
of thousands of bushels will hang
froSt-bitten on the trees until the
wind blows them off. or will rot on the
ground.
In addition, hundreds of thousands
of bushels are being weeded out by
packers and will be wasted. Fruit
men stated today that the plain rea-
son was that growers and middle
men had not sought the right market
at the right time. Some tried to ship
too far and their profits were eaten
UP by freight rates, demurrage and
handling charges. Others rushed
into markets already glutted. In
some instances it was not q case of
fruit selling cheap. 1t simply did
not sell at all,
Consumers Benefit Small.
There was no adequate regulation
of supply and no general guarantee
of trade and quality. In consequence
mnay orchardists lost money and the
final consumers benefited only to a
small degree, because selling and
handling charges ate up margins of
profit. There was q lack OF steady
supplies at steady prices and con
SE,ners therefO~e were faced with
either d feast or a famine of fruit.
fhe one nullifying the price effects of
the other, and preventing liliddemen
from giving full benefit OF the huge
crop to consumers.
Experts illustrated the situation to-
day by referring to the banana trade.
One large concern has sold well over
100000 punches so far this year than
last and done so without disturbing
markets or diSarranging price Sched-
uieS either to the trade or the con-
sumner, merely by routing shipments
to those Centers where the fruit was
wanted and Withholding them from
markets already supplied.
Grapes Well Disposed.
This would have been impossible if
the shipments had come from thou
sands of Independent growers, each
rushing into the market where he
heard the largest profits were obtain
able. Half the grape crop Of Michigan
was moved by motor truck this year.
and since nearby markets were sought
ana not over crowded, profits and
prices were In the main satisfactory.
Another illustration of co-ordinated
effort was furnished by the Ham
nond. La, strawberry growers. Each
day of their season shipments were
backed under the eyes Of State in
SpectorS. These shipments were
started during the day. They were
sold to brokers in the evening, and
the buyers then rerouted the cars
bought from diversion point to the
markets calling for them. Thus quail
ity and markets were insured.
Lemon Disaster Averted.
The California lemon growers saved
themselves from distaSter this year
hy shipping to Eastern centerS only
what those markets, in the throes of
upnfavorable climatic conditions, de-
manded. In consequence they received
fair prices for shipments.
Other fruits have suffered proper
tionately with apples. The peach crop
amounted to 67,24O. 900 bushels, as
compared with 46.570,000 last year.
There We're 25,270,000 bushels of pears
grown, as compared with 19,820.000 in
1925. Growers of each suffered from
attempts to go it alone" and from
picking their markets indiScr;minately.
Fruit men are now turning to at
tempts to improve quality. become in
dependent of outside labor. standardize
packing and grading and meet de-
mandS at steady level prices by main
tanning adequate supplies at market
CeEterS. The successful cooperative
effort Of the California raisin growers
and of the New England cranberry
producers are likely tc be initiated by
the fruit growers in the near future.