Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-29
COOPERATIVE
EXPLAINED TO
ORCHARDISTS
Growers Get Details of
McAllen Citrus Asso-
citation; Bureau Men
Speak

(BY J. r. CARLSON
McALLEN, Sept. 28-(SpD-De-
tails Of the operation Of the McAllen
Citrus association and the Texas
Farm Bureau were presented 10
sixty growers attending O meeting
here this week In the Lincoln
school auditorium. at which several
experts spoke on phases OF market
Ing and growing problems.
M. Warren. manager Of the Rio
Hondo Vegetable Growers associa-
ton, discussed the National Farm
Board and the National Farm act
as outgrowth Of recent years de-
signed to aid the situation Of the
farmer. He mentioned the recent
freight rate adjustment brought
about largely through the Texas
Farm Bureau activities
Cooperative History
j.. II. Miller, Of the Texas Farm
Bureau service department, re-
viewed the general history Of the CO.
operative movement, summarizing
with the declaration that VALLEY
farmers need TO organize because Of
their distance from consuming CEN
tiers, and to aid the small grower
to realize a fair margin OF prifits.
Cooperative selling and group buy
ing comprised the plan offered by
him for organization.
Miller also mentioned the Texas
Buying association. formed two
years ago rs a subsidiary Of the
Texas Farm Bureau. which pools
purchasing supplies and acts as a
money saver to the farmer.
Miller described the struggle that
resulted In the forming Of the
American Farm Bureau Federation
in Indiana in 1919 and the efforts
since which brought about the pas
sage Of the National Farm Act this
year. establishing for the first time
agriculture on some parity with in
dustry. One result OF the National
Farm act, the speaker said. is that
2 1000 has been made available for
the American Cotton Exchange for
holding cotton and putting It. on
the market In an orderly manner"
See that farming pays" was
MiIler's parting admonition 10 his
audience.
Citrus Organization
Details OF thu organization Of the
McAllen CitruS association were Civ
en- by ~. ID. Donelson, secretary
manager Of the association. This
association functions, he said, as an
independent 100 per cent copoera-
tive organization and will sell
through the National Fruit and
Vegetable Growers Association.
Ground was to be broken this week
for the erection Of a $28. 900 packing
plant at McAllen with the capacity
OF 100 cars q month, he said. Until
the new plant Is ready, shipments
will be made through three other
plants. IL is the plan Of the Nc
Allen Citrus Association to hold
monthly meeting with expert speak
ers to tell Of the best methods or
handling various phases Of orchard
work.
The association was formed for
furthering cooperation among or
chardists, three months ago. It
aims toward more direct selling OF
products Of It's members and pool
ing the interests of the organization
In buying fertilizer. insecticides, and
other supplies. The association
will attempt 70 get the fruit to the
consumer at q lower cost and at he
same time provide q higher return
to the grower through the elimina-
ton Of middlemen and lowering the
cost Of production.
Tells Of Organizing
Donelson told OF his work In or
ganizing the association, among %
or 80 interested men who launched
the venture with the Chamber OF
Commerce and drew up rough plans
electing q board Of directors. The
organization Is financing It's plant
through a loan Of $4,000 from a
financial subsidiary Of the national
association. OF this amount 5000
was paid last week, $1,000 Is due 70
be paid Wednesday, and $4,000 Oc.|
tDber Is. The remaining $1,000 w.
TO be raised On notes endorsed ~
the financial organization. a ton
mage OF over 200 cars has been
signed I'D among McAllen growers
for the shipping season.
The association officer also point
ed out to members the Importance
OF picking fair samples for testing.
which has started at the old South