Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-22
CANNING INDUSTRY
FACING PROBLEMS
Selling of Seven Billion Pack
ages of Food Will Tax
Distributors.
BY J. c. ROYLE.
Rat1h fA Tha Efor

special Dispatch TO Inc Star.
NEW YORK, January 22.-More
than 7,000,000000 cans of food will be
put up by the 5000 canning plants
of the country this year. This is the
estimate made today by leaders in the
industry now gathered for conference
in Chicago.
The output, they say, would bring in
around a billion dollars. One of the
chief problems facing the industry,
however, is how to sell 1000, 100000
cans.
The industry has had a year of
stable conditions, with goods moving
we'll and few burdensome stocks to
unsettle conditions and force sales. The
inhabitants of this country are stead
fast in their affection to the can opener,
but leaders of the industry realize no
business can afford to stand still and
that the canning industry must progress
or slip back. There is a feeling that
the sales problem offers a wide open
gateway for the entry of new and sensi-
BILE selling methods.
Statistics Lacking.
The Gamers have been slow to de-
velop a statistical record of production
and consumption and this has handi-
capped both the cannery and sales
ends. Production has not yet always
been adjusted properly to demand and
statesmen have started out to sell with
out knowing what or how much they
could sell with wisdom and safety.
The distribution of the manufactured
goods now represents the gravest prob
lem before business, according to B. C.
Mott, president of the National Gamers
Association. He lists service, quality
capable management, adequate finance
efficiency and constructive publicity as
the most effective sales aids, and con-
cludes that the packers can best aic
retail distribution Of the grocers BY
packing dependable quality with ar
honest fill in every can delivered.
There Is obvious a distinct antago-
nism toward any selling policy which
will involve rebates or discounts to IA
vored customers, the feeling being that
in the long run such sales cost more
than they are worth.
The tariff also is a burning issue
with the Gamers at the present time
They are seeking tariff on tomatoes
and peas as well as on pimentos. Italy
they say, Is shipping an increased guam
tity of tomatoes, while Mexico is send
ing in peas and Spain is increasing
pimento shipments. The Gamers are
disposed to get behind the farm or.
CARNATIONS which are seeking higher
tariff wall against the entry of fresh
fruit and vegetables coming across the
/, Rio Grande from Mexico.
Urge Change in Law.
There is difference of opinion how.
ever, among the packers as to the
tariff on sugar. Considerable sugar is
used by the industry and technically
the industry is intensely interested ir
the microbial quality of sugar used az
personalities. On the other hand, some
Gamers do not look with favor upon
the widespread preservation of fresh
fruit by addition of sugar, which lib
crates fruit juices and sets up a con.
dition resembling dehydration. The
Gamers also are divided as to the rela.
tive values for their purposes of cane
beet and corn sugars
The Gamers also are advocating q
change in the pure food and drug act
which will require that quality be shown
on the label They say there should be
definite dividing line between low
grades and better grade products, but
without fine grades of distinction. The
increasing all-year-round competition
from fresh green vegetables grown in
the Southern States is also coming ir
for discussion.