Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-10

Several years ago the proposition OF adopting q
Valley label. to be used on all shipments Of fruit and
vegetables. was discussed and the plan received general
approval However. like many other plans II was
allowed TO fall By the wayside for lack Of some organ
ization to keep IL before the public.
At that time the Valley was shipping less than so
per cent Of the fruit aud vegetables nov moving each
year. and if a Valley label would have proved bene-
fetal then its value wcuid now be doubled
In many sections OF California and Florida the
products carry a community or section label in con-
nection with individual or firm labels. The Imperial
Valley Of California IS one of the large winter vegeta-
bic producing areas which has developed the label to
their advantage.
A Valley label. the use Of which would be permitted
firms and individuals adopting a certain specified
standard Of quality and pack, would prove of great
value not only in advertising the Valley but also in
establishing and maintaining markets for Valley prod
ucts. II would have q tendency to promote Standard
zation Of pack among shippers and would also tend to
improve the quality of production. II would be neces-
sary to guard jealously the use Of the label. and this
fact alone would prove an important factor in creating
greater interest in better quality production, better
Pack and cooperation among the principal shippers and
growers in maintaining the high standards. +
While practically all shippers in the Valley use
label which emphasize the fact they are shipping Low
r. Rio Grande Valley products, these labels do not
indicate that any certain standard Of quality or pack
has been accepted. But If the same labels were used
IN connection with q Valley label. a permit for the use
of which was granted after the shipper has satisfied
q Valley board that the quality and pack Of his ship
msnts comes up to certain specified standards, the
label would in itself be a guarantee to the purchaser
that the package contains Valley products of the best
quality.
The Valley is facing sharp competition from Flori-
da, California and other citrus fruit and winter vege-
table producing areas which are utilizing every possi-
bic method Of establishing and maintaining markets.
They are stressing the high quality of their products,
and their production and pack is so standardized that
the labels are accepted as a guarantee Of quality. The
great majority Of Valley shippers are shipping fruit
and vegetables Of standard quality, well packed, and
their respective labels are accepted as a surety of quail
ity. But there are other shippers who pay little at
tention to either quality or pack. Their labels also
carry the information that the products they ship we're
grown and packed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Of
Texas, and as an advertisement for the Valley and
Valley products they are anything but valuable.
If the Valley growers are to meet and overcome the
competition Of other fruit and winter vegetable pro-
ducing sections IL is essential that quality and pack
be standardized; and a Valley label be adopted. It
will not take many months to pOpularize the label in the
market centers il the standards are maintained, and il
would tend to eliminate the handicap Of poor grading
and pack with which many Valley shippers are forced
TO contend in the fight for markets.