Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-19
FLORIDA FRUIT
EXPORT TRADE
SHOWING GAIN
Water Transportation
Expected to Solve
Market Problem For
Large Production

Water transportation is opening
the markets Of the world to American
citrus fruits. according to a recent
report Of Armour & Company who
are now operating huge cold storage
and preceding plants at Jacksonville
Fla, from which ports large cargoes
of fruit are now being consigned to
Europe and other markets.
Low water rates are rapidly build
ing up the world markets, and in
many European countries American
citrus is sold az a lower price than IS
possible In the interior sections OF
the United States. England, Ger
many, the Scandinavian countries,
and even in parts of southern Eu-
rope, American grapefruit is coming
into general demand, with indica-
tions that large markets for fruit
will eventually be established.
Commenting upon the rapid de-
velopM(of foreign markets, Mark
Hyde, general manager Of the south
eastern storage division of Armour
& Company, recently called atten-
tion TO the fact that extensive ex-
periments carried on by his company
had proved beyond controverS>that
handling of fruit by water trahErSi
will prove both satisfactory an q
nomical.
"Our experiments have shown
that under proper packing conditions
either oranges or grapefruit may be
kept in storage from three 10 fiv
months, 60 through the regular chan
nels of merchandising, and be put on
the consumers table in Liverpool
London or Glasgow and other
ropean cities, as well as in New Yo
Seattle or Buenos Aires, in souhT
condition and attractive appearance"
Mr.. Hyde said.
Can Meet Competitors
I'VE have definitely determined.
that with proper cooperation T.
growers and packers American fruit
Ear meet its major competitors on
these markets on equal terms, Mr..
Hyde said.
The first ship sent to Europe with
fruit by this firm left Jacksonville
with 5000 boxes Dec. 20. Mr.. Hyde.
who is now in Tampa, has received
a cablegram m his agents in Lon
lived IN GOOD condition and that it
had been sold. Due TO the high
quality of the fruit. IL is establish
ing favor among the Lon
don firm said. with demand becom-
ing more insistent. I'VE consider
this cargo the best We have ever
seen. The shipment reflects great
credit on Florida" the message said.
Despite abnormally high markets
IT home, and small sizes Of this
tuit, net prices to growers were
comparable to New York auction
prices, Mr.. Hyde said. The second
boat sailed Jan. % with an equal vol
ume Of fruit, but of higher quality,
he added. Mr.. Hyde is not yet ship
ping oranges, but his experiments
have shown that they can be handled
in the same manner California
growers have been shipping oranges
to Europe for years. and thumolng
their noses at Florida as their ships
20 by" Mr. Hyde said.
At Work Since 1916
"My company sent me TO Florida
in 1916 to study the possibilities OF
such shipments" Mr.. Hyde said.
Armour and Company is not act
ing as philanthropists. The company
is interested in Florida e such en-
extent that any action 20 improve
Florida's citrus markets Will bring
returns. The first year we used 80
carloads Of oranges and grapefruit IN
our Jacksonville plant in experiments
to determine proper temperatures,
humidity and air control to insure
the longest possible storage period.
During the time these expert
ments were being made IN cold stor-
age, we were also studying growing
conditions and packing methods, and
we found that il was in these two
factors that the greatest develop
men was needed. At no point could
we find great difficulty in our mar
keting problems. When we were
satisfied about the keeping qualities
Of our fruit we arranged for ship
ment, which naturally had to be In
volume" !.
For distribution Mr.. Hyde selected
an old established English house.
Parsons and Company. of London and
Glasgow, under the axiom that il you
want TO develop a trade in England,
use an English firm. The firm had
made a reputation in handling fruit
from California, Spain, Palestine and
South Africa.
Polk Supplies Fruit
WIN InlS arrangement maui ~
Hyde went to the growers Of Polk
county, who guaranteed TO supply
him with as much as $4,000 boxes
for shipment. With this guarantee,
he approached the steamship people,
and succeeded in getting the Fred
erick Leland Steamship company, Of
Liverpool. to divert two of their fin
est refrigerator boats from the New
England-Liverpool run TO the Jack
sonville-Liverpool run, taking cot
ton and naval stores as additional
cargo, for refrigeration space is not
a considerable part of the capacity
of any ship.
The arrangement is working out
splendidly, Mr.. Hyde said. The ships
will remain on the run throughout
the season, demonstrating to Florida
growers that if Europe can buy Flor
ida fruit in competition with high
American prices, the trade should be
Of exceptional advantage when prices
are not so good-and prices are not
going TO be good, Just as soon as there
is a considerable increase in Florida
Ill - A.