The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1928-12-13
DESGRANGES
REPORTS ON
BIG Y MEET
Local Plant Handles 512 Cars
of Produce this Year-114
Cars More than any Pre-
viouS Year.


The Yakima Fruit Growers as
sociation held its annual district
meeting at the Commercial club
rooms Monday evening. H. w. Des-
oranges, local manager, submits
the following report of the meet
ing. ...
President II. P. James opened
his remarks by paying very high
tribute TO the memory of John j.
Rudkin. He said: "to John Rud-
kin, more than TO any other one
man, belonged the credit of bring
ing the Big Y into existence and
maintaining it during the trying
years when its friends were few
and its credit at low ebb. Mr..
Rudkin was one of its founders
and served as trustee until his
death. He believed in cooperative
marketing and was one of its
staunchest supporters in the days
when the movement was not so
popular. His clear thinking and
sound council guided the organiza-
ton safely over the rough places
in its early history and placed it
upon a sound foundation. We will
miss John Rudkin in our board
meetings. You will miss him in
your district meetings and the
community will miss him."
DR.. James reviewed the activi-
ties of the association DURING the
past year. He pointed to its ra-
pid growth in membership and
tonnage as evidence that it was
fulfilling a real need in the fruit
industry and gaining the respect
and confidence of those engaged
in the industry. It's membership
has increased by 500 and its ship
ments this year will exceed $500
cars as compared with 5000 cars
In 1926, its previous high mark.
All of the Is plants have worked
to full capacity and more than D.
OOO, 900 boxes of apples alone were
packed. Two modern cold storage
plants were built during the year.
One at Ahtanum and one at Wei
kel, with a capacity Of $50 cars,
bringing the Big Y cold storage
space up to 1900 cars. He predict
ed continuing growth, the lin
iting factor being its ability TO
finance and equip the necessary
facilities for the proper handling
of the fruit.
Ia o. Cockrill, assistant general
manager, discussed the problems
that must be met as a result of
the rapid expansion Of the asso-
ciation's business. The question
of financing, running into millions
of dollars, is no small matter, al
tho no serious obstacles were en-
countered as the association enjoys
the highest financial rating.
The vexing spray residue prob
lem seems to be solved in the
Brogdex system. More than 500
cars have successfully passed the
test for export shipment and the
paraffin treatment has successful=
iy overcome any injurious effects
from washing, the fruit arriving
In foreign markets in good condi-
ton. Mr.. Cochrill discussed at
some length the intricate problem
OF marketing. No change from
the well established policy of the
Big Y, that of merchandising to
the trade on the fob. basis is con-
templated. The sales force, how
ever, has been enlarged in keeping
with the increased tonnage. Apples
are moving into the markets sat
isfactorily and at fair prices con-
sidering the heavy crop to be sold.
The Big Y is taking an active
part in the advertising campaign
and in pressing the application for
reduced freight rates on apples TO
the East now pending before the
/. c. c. This case will soon he ar
gued in Washington with good
prospects that some relief will be
afforded.
The local plant has experienced
a very busy year. Beginning with
and when the apples are
all shipped out Of cold storage, it
will have handled, including ex-
press shipments, 512 cars. This is
ia cars more than any previous
year.
j. A. Mclean was unanimously
nominated to succeed j. J. Rudlin
as a member of the hoard of trus-