Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-10
BETTER PACK
and CORRECT
PRODUCT need
Future Sure But Sec
ton Has Lesson To
Learn, G. L. Craw-
ford Says
BY ri. G.. STILwELL JR.,
Staff CORRESPONDENT.

Picture to yourSeif q great lnous-
trial area along the Atlantic sea-
board and Mississippi basin of the
United States, peopled with millions
upon millions of persons, winter
bound for a larger part Of each year.
and craving green vegetables of any
kind-this population increasing,
and becoming more centralized
and
Picture a small garden spot, thou
sands Of miles away, producing dur
ing the winter months, under a warm
sun, thousands Of carloads Of green
vegetables, and shipping these out 70
the people Of the north-a section
which is one of the few in the Unit
ed States that can accomplish this
feat. and
You have a picture of the relation
Of the Lower Rio Grande Valley to
its markets, and an idea Of what its
future will be.
Can Grow Produce
This is the picture that is drawn
from a general discussion of the sit
uation by G.. L. Crawford, market re-
search specialist of the Texas A. a.
NJ. college, who has just completed
a study of the receiving end of VAL
ley produce marketing. Several
years ago he made an exhaustive
study which he has just made COM
study witch he has just made COM
pletes the survey of Valley produce
and its markets.
you are the southernmost pro-
ducing section in the United
States" Mr.. Crawford said. you
have the climate. This can never
be changed. You are the only Sec
ton in the country which has the
climate.
You can grow the produce dur
ing the winter. and you have one of
the few sections in the country
where such produce al be grown in
large quantities, and without any
undue hazards.
THE market for il is ever increas-
ing. The people Of the east are de-
veloping a greater taste for vegeta-
bles in the winter. They are snow
bound n large part of the year, and
are always eager to get something
green.
Future Assured
with this situation existing, II Is
evident that the future Of the Val
ley should be assured. IL is mainly
a question of producing quality, Sc
curing cheaper transportation, and
marketing it in a sound tanner. The
demand will continue to increase
even more rapidly than the Valley
can supply it,"
Mr.. Crawford then entered into
a detailed discussion of the infor-
nation which he has secured from
research work in the middle west
and east, explaining ways in which,
in his opinion. the Valley
and shippers can create a better
market and secure a better price for
their produce.
"My work." he said, "has been Just
an effort to find out the truth. That
IS what ] consider research. II has
an effort to find out what in hap
pening TO the Valley produce, WIN
some Is in demand, and others not
In demand. A study of these facts
viii show the Valley some ways in
which 1t can increase the demand,
and better the price"
Inferior pack. and inferior, or
wrong kind Of produce are two OF
the greatest drawbacks to the yege-
table industry in the Valley at the
present time, Mr.. Crawford said.
The vegetables from the Valley to a
certain extent reach the market dur
ing a time when there IS no competi-
ton. In such a condition they usu-
ally bring a good price, regardless
OF pack and quality, although some
loss is encountered.
Must Meet Competition
But when the Valleys produce en-
counters competition. it must be Of
equal or better quality. adm in good
shape, packed in good containers,
al order to meet the competition.
In discussing several vegetables
in the Valley from this angle
Mr.. Crawford mentioned potatoes.
shipped by the Valley Potato Grow
Exchange, as one example OF
a be accomplished through a
uniform grade and pack. "You ex-
change has done much to establish
a demand for Valley potatoes" he
said. when the trade is offered
potatoes, shipped by the ex-
change. it realizes that there is a
produce, I02 pounds to the
and this has helped the Valley
in potatoes"
Mr.. Crawford said IL would be
for the Valley to ship only
U. S. No. l graded potatoes, and that
ne understands the exchange is pre-
TO carry out such a plan in
he future.
He ~visualized the time when the
growers and shippers throughout the
will be organized in an or
having the same aims as
he potato growers association. and
following. perhaps, a somewhat sim
lar methods of reaching these aims.
The organization Is a union Of the
and the grower to secure a
better return through the producing
better quality, and sounder mar
Beets and Carrots Poor
In shipping carrots and beets the
has made probably the poorest
in the past. Mr.. Crawford
Examined a number of ears on ar
ival at the markets, a pdfound that
he carrots are damaged when
in bushel hampers. These
are packed in such a way as
o be Known as the "bulged pack"
he hampers do not hold up, and the
and carrots usually arrive in
ioor condition. This results in the
xtra expense Of rc-packing. which