Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-25

Fruit Growers Exchange and every
one was called first class. Langford
g. Edwards Of London were particu-
larry loud IN their praise Of both
the fruit and the treatment receiv-
ed from the exchange.
II spent q few days In Detroit and
visited both the big Western Mar
ket and the Detroit Union Produce
Terminal. one Of the finest and larg-
est produce buildings In America.
There I saw an auction Of Califor-
mia produce and fruits being held
and wondered when we would be
able 10 control things as they do In
california. OF course cooperation and
strictly enforced laws as to quail
ity. grading and packing does it.
"One Of the firm of Andrew Bros,
large wholesalers, had been In the
Valley last December and from him
! received valuable information and
advice. He found lots Of good fruit
In the Valley. but when two car
loads OF grapefruit came up to them
on consignment. they found It very
indifferent In quality and pack.
They were disguised and ordered
no more. This gentleman said we
had q great lack OF large. modern
packing plants for great quantity Of
fruit we had in view Il explained
how this was being overcome). and
went on to say how he watched q
farmer packing grapefruit under a
makeshift shed. Two laborers were
cleaning It by hand and there was
a total lack Of machinery for sort
ing. grading and picking. How can
such methods compete with the
highly ORGANIZED California and
Florida industry" he said. And how
can they? Then. he continued. some
boxes have a good bulge when re-
ceived up here, some r flat. vari-
Gus sizes OF fruit are In the same
box. much OF the fruit we received
had very thick skins and was pithv.
some boxes appeared To be discol-
ored or weather beaten. Hard to sell.
bad for business. We think these
carloads were found too poor for n
cash market and then sent up here
on consignment. which was q great
blunder. What Is the matter with
YOU? You have pnod fruit because
7 saw IL myself. WHY don't you rive
IL to us? If YOU ruin YOUR market
now. you will spend a large amount
70 get 1t back and with all the trees
I saw growing. YOU are going to
need the biz markets hadlv. Give us
two or more Grades with a rlIaran-
teed California pack, or don't send
ANYTHING
Most of the other big wholesalers
were also dissatisfied with our fruit.
saying that our citrus industry was
in confusion and they could never
know when they would receive a bad
shipment that would cause them
trouble. Admitted. that the big VAL
lev shippers OF both fuit and vege-
tables. most Of whom have brought
in California or Florida packers. are
giving satisfaction. but bad ship
ments from others are giving us "A
black eve. Why don't YOU control
YOUR industry as does California? II
is costing YOU people a lot Of money
irving 10 buck u.s. said one Of the
big wholesalers.
Johnston e. company. small
wholesalers on the western market.
received one shipment Of Valley
fruit and said II was very good. "A
manager OF a big chain store said
they had some Valley grapefruit that
was Of excellent flavor. much better
than that ~ Florida fruit. but II
was verv black. looked more like
cocoanuts.' And yet, people eat with
their eyes,
"Our tomatoes made a biz hit In
Detroit and most other vegetables
found ready sale. though there was
considerable erratic packing. The
general concensus Of opinions was
that u vegetable pack was i'm
proving. chiefly owing to the big
shippers bringing in Florida and
California skilled help, but we still
lacked a lot Of reaching the Califor-
MIA standard. because Of too many
bootleg shipments as one whole
saler put 1t. AS in another big mar
ket. Toronto. u carrots were driv.
en- off the market as soon as CAL
ifornia carrots came IN. We have the
wrong variety and they positively
will not take anything but Califor-
MIA count. grade and pack.
The estimate of the citrus mar
let In Detroit ran from 1900 to 1900
cars per year, Of which we supplied
IN estimated ten to fifteen cars.
What q chance for us.
II appeal to every citrus grower
in the Valley to allow his fruit to
be packed only where they have the
proper facilities and machinery for
sorting. grading and cleaning and
where a standard California or
Florida pack will be guaranteed.
Then we will get the big markets
and our fruit will soon be bringing
a nice premium instead Of being
under a cloud as at present. And re-
member. the Canadian market will
take all OF small sizes. II we
will lust do things right. Why butt
our heads against a stone wall. when
II is just as easy to conform with
the rules? And we must advertise.
Constantly. I hear Florida fruit adj
vertised over the radio and both
florida and California use consider
able newspaper space. And by the
-av. Porto Rico and Isle Of Pines
-riIl be back in the grapefruit mar
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