The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1929-01-31
BIG Y' HAS
PLAN TO SELL
GROUND CROP
Organization Suggests to 3
Rivers Tonnage Pool of As
paragus, Strawberries, and
Early Potatoes.

A proposition to market the
ground crops of this district, as
paragus, Strawberries and early
potatoes, which has been present
ed to Lee M. Lampson, manager of
the Three Rivers Growers associa-
tion, by j. w. Hebert, general man.
ager of the Big "Y", was unani-
mously approved by the Big "Y'
membership of this district, who
attended a growers meeting at the
Highland club house Wednesday
evening.
The proposition provides for:
First, that the Big Y tonnage
of asparague, strawberries and
early potatoes in the Kennewick
district be pooled with the tonnage
of the Three Rivers Growers asso-
citation.
Second, that all other shippers
operating in Kennewick be invited
to join with us on the same pool
basis, thus combining all the ton
mage.
"Third, that State Inspection
shall be employed to assure the
uniformity of grade and pack.
Fourth, that the sale shall be
handled by a salesman not now
employed by either organization,
to be located at Kennewick for the
season, who shall be employed
jointly to handle the sales, the cost
to be apportioned on the basis of
the tonnage contributed by each
affiliated organization or shipper.
Fifth, that the present ware
house facilities of each shipper
shall be used just as heretofore,
each loading out their own cars,
but the salesman shall have full
authority to make up carloads by
consultations from one house to
another, thus eliminating carry
overs and expediting the handling
of the business"
The text of the letter, in part, TO
Mr.. Lampson follows:
at has come to our attention
that you are promoting plan
whereby at least seventy percent
of the asparagus, Strawberries and
early potato tonnage of the Ken
newick district may be marketed
through one channel this coming
season. The purpose of this is no
doubt to control majority of the
tonnage under one sales office,
thereby eliminating competition in
so far as possible at the point of
shipment. This has been the OBJ
jective of both the Big "Y" and
the Three Rivers Association for a
number of years past, but without
success.
"We wish to assure you of our
hearty endorsement of the princi-
pie underlying your plan to get
at least seventy percent of these
commodities together, but believe
it should be made 100 percent to
be effective. Even ten percent, on
the outside could and probably
would be a disturbing factor and
might at some crucial point in the
marketing season break down the
level of prices being maintained
by the other 80 uercent.
"We wish therefore to submit
to you and through you to the
growers affiliated with the Three
Rivers Growers Association, the
following proposition, subject to
the endorsement of the Big "Y"
growers of these products in the
Kennewick district.
"The details of carrying out this
proposal can readily be worked
out if the general plan is accept
able to the growers. The item of
expense of employing a salesman
to handle the entire tonnage would
be far more than offset by the ad-
vantages of such an arrangement"
Mr.. Hebert pointed out that the
Big eY'' was the one single organ
ization that has been in Kenne=
wick since 1918. 1t is handling the
largest tonnage of any organiza-
ton in the North West in complete
packing, assembling, cold storage
and selling this year. From the
inception of the organization it
has stood for cooperation.