Imperial Valley press., 1930-10-08

The l930-3l crop of citrus fruit
in Imperial Valley is rapidly ap-
preaching maturity and promises to
be about 500 cars, or $4,000 packed
boxes of grapefruit, 2S0,000 of
which will be handled through the
Desert Citrus Exchange, the local
sub-officc of the California Fruit
Growers Exchange, according to
Norman Lombard, local manage.
Although there appears to be a
lighter set of fruit throughout the
valley than last year, the crop as
a whole is greater by - per cent
than the previous crop, owing to
additional acreage of young trees
coming into bearing this season. The
combined estimate Of the grapefruit
crop Of California and Arizona
shows a 80 per cent increase over
last year while shipments through
( the California Fruit Growers 81
change will increase practically 50
per cent, due to the addition of
many new growers, particularly in
the Imperial Valley district.
The total production of grapefruit
from all sections of United States
promises to be larger than any pre-
vious year and by reason OF this
and the fact that there is a tremen-
dous crop of oranges to be disposed
of, means that the valley crop of
grapefruit can only be successfully
marketed by increasing the number
of sales outlets and the consumer
demand for valley fruit Also. The
fact that the federal Mediterranean
fruit fly restrictions on shipments
Of citrus fruits in the Is southern
and western states, ToXas, Arizona
and California excluded, will be
lifted by the federal government
October - and as consequence
keen competition viii exist in these
markets, whereas the previous seas
on these states were obliged to loal
to Arizona, Texas and California fer
their supplies of citrus fruit.
Only through close cooperation be-
tween growers themselves will it
be possible to meet this increased
competition and production problem
IN satisfactory manner. Lombard
believes. 1t is very encouraging to
note that the Exchange was able.
through advertising and close co.
operation of its growers members
last year, to increase the consume
tlon of desert grapefruit Is per
per cent in the central and Pacific
northwest markets at higher aver
age prices than have prevailed for
the past three years. Tn southern
and middle west markets also con-
sumed quite respectable volume
of valley fruit last season and it is
TO be hoped that the coming yvm
will show a further increase OF sales
in these markets. Exchange grow
ers are voluntarily assessing them-
selves l0c per packed box again
this season to be invested i'm sales
promotion work and general advu
tiSing which viii be of very great
assistance to the sales department.
in disposing Of the local grapefruit
crop.
The Imperial Valley grapefruit
crop is noticeably superior in qua'-
itY to the crop of the previous seas
on and sizes generally are somewhat
smaller TO date, which will also be
quite helpful in maintaining a fair
price, Lombard said.
1t is generally believed that dH2
to unusually warm weather in the
early part of last February, followed
by few very chilly nights during
the latter part of that month, was
responsible for the somewhat lighter
yield of fruit ON bearing trees N
the valley. However. the trees gcu-
orally have the appearance of being
in a much more thrifty condition.
than was the case year ago, 2ll Of
which indicates that the growers
are coming to realize the importanca
of taking care Of their citrus plant
ingS.
The local plant of the Imperial
Valley Grapefruit Growers located
on Brighton street is installing a
new lidding and strapping machine,
also an automatic box making mn,
chine to facilitate handling the in
creased crop this season. Sweat
rooms are now being installed in
the basement to take care Of the
sweating of the early pickirgs dur
ing the last part of this month.
The Desert Grapefruit Company