Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-30

Hss .nan a month has elapsed since the onen;rv
I tne citrus fruit marketing season. and the rrcs
= ALREADY reached a low level that indicates tho
80" VII not result in substantial profits for Valley
growers unless steps are Immediately taken "a eliri.
sales. !" mani 1u'"
~ several of the most important Texas markets
'eesfams have been received announcing that cutting
is the order of the day; that in order to make sales
prices are being reduced; and many dealers in dis
'riouting markets are taking advantage OF this situa-
'on TO make Valley shippers bid against each other.
ms = merely a repetition Of thu old order. Year
after year, the Valley growers have permitted citrus
irult to be sold in this manner, a few carloads placed
IN the hands of irresponsible dealers, whose only in
terest in the Valley is the immediate profit from each
car being sufficient 70 force down prices for the entire
crop.
Instead Of the growers working together in har-
mony Tor their mutual advantage they are permitting
their fruit to be used in competitive practices which
tend to demcralize markets. In other words. the re-.
fusal of Valley growers to organize and properly con-
troll marketing Of the citrus crop is causing the loss Of
thousands of dollars annually, and this loss will in
crease in direct ratio to the annual increase in pro
duction.
There is no logical reason why the Valley growers
should not cash in on the 1928 fruit crop. The de-
mand for Texas fruit is increasing; Florida's grape
fruit production Is far below normal, and if the Valley
would market its crop in an orderly manner, carefully
refraining from price-cutting practices such as al
ready are in evidence, every box Of Valley fruit would
bring the grower a substantial profit.
The fruit deal has assumed all the characteristics
of the vegetable deal. Buyers are ranging up and
down the Valley, buying at the lowest price possible
and quoting carload lots at figures which force down
the price for the entire production. The growers, anx-
ious 10 get the fruit off the trees, are, in many cases,
sacrificing it. and supplying the irresponsible buyers
with the means 10 demora!ize the markets for the Val
ley product. In the meantime, California and Florida
organizations are keeping fruit off the markets which
the Valley price-cutters have demoraized, and will wait
until the Valley has sacrificed its crop before stepping
in and gathering up the real profits.
The marketing situation in the Valley may be de-
scribed as pitiful. The well established, we'll equipped
shippers using tomato graders and similar machinery.
The leading dealers Of the state are flooded with tele-
grams and letters from the latter class Of packers
quoting ~cut-throat prices on Valley fruit, and the grow
ers themselves are responsible for this condition. They
supply the fruit that Is used 10 club down the price
in the Valleys markets.
The Valley cannot afford q lose the profits which
should accrue to it from the 1928 citrus fruit crop.
Valley growers and shippers should call a mass meet
ing at some central point and decide upon some def
mite line of action to eliminate this unnecessary com
petition and price cutting. II this is not done, the cit
rus industry will receive a setback from which IL may
never recover.