Evening star., 1932-02-14
SURPLUS fruit USE
FOR RELIEF URGED
Disposal of California Prod
ucts to Needy Is Pro-
posed to Chest. il.

n pldIl VI tAlC GsSO1lOIIllC NOLlSeIVA.
ton Committee Of America for disposal
at cost to charitable agencies Of sur
plus fruit products from California has
been brought to the attention of the
local Community Chest. 1t was learned
yesterday.
At present the committee, with head
quarters in San Francisco, Is canning
and distributing peach and prune but
ter, marmalade, tomato concentrate
and sardines. but eventually the or
ganization hopes to extend its activities
food crops IN all parts Of the country.
The project has been explained to
Elwood Street, director of the Com
munity Chest. and Gen. F. B. Cheat
ham, former quartermaster general of
the Army and now chairman of the
Chest Committee on Purchasing
Methods, by local representative of
J. r. McCleskey, executive director of
the Economic Conservation Committee.
Need Here Is Doubted.
While no formal decision has been
reached as to the attitude of the Chest,
it Is understood of1icials of that
agency have expressed doubt as to the
need here for the particular products
now being disposed of by the Coast
group.
There appears to be no large de-
mand among charitable institutions Of
Washington for fruit butter or tomato
juice" Mr.. Street said yesterday. How
ever, Gen. Cheatham Is investigating
the plan to see If it would be OF ad-
vantage to local institutions. The Com
munity Chest, Of itself, purchases no
supplies, Of course"
Carloads Of the fruit products have
been used by number of charitable or
gan1zattons in other parts of the coun-
try as far east as Ohio. The commit
tee Is seeking to extend its operations
to the Atlantic seaboard.
The Economic Conservation Commit
tee Is said to be non profit organiza-
tion founded solely for the purpose Of
turning waste to meet want" 1t is
Claimed that many tons Of peaches,
apricots, prunes, pears and other fruits
have been saved from rotting In the
orchards Of California and made avail
able at cost Of canning and distributing
to worthy institutions.
Supported by McAdoo.
william Gibbs McAooo is reported
to have been active in support Of the
committees operations. John H. Irish
Of the University of California heads
the Advisory Board. Other members
of the board are Parker l.. Jackson,
San Francisco banker; Irene Bubser,
matron Of the Junior League House,
San Francisco; I. B. Taylor, president
of the Berkeley (Calif) Rotary Club;
Clarence F. Pratt, extension director
Of the Economic Conservation Commit
tee. and Executive Director McCleskey.
According to McCleskey, the commit
tee has undertaken Ito put q basic eco
nomic principle to work in conserving
possible and using what otherwise
would be wasted to feed people Of the
underpriviIeged classes"
All usual marketing profits are elimi-
mated. it is claimed, and all buyers
agree that the products will not be re-
sold for profit or through commercial
channels Plain tins, labels and ship.
ping cases are used and no brand or
other commercial mark appears on the
During the drought emergency the
committee shipped several carloads Of
It's products into the affected area Tor
free distribution to sufferers.
Proposed Wheat Use.
The committee some months ago in
terested itself in the surplus wheat
problem and was in communication
with members Of Congress and officials
OF the Federal Farm Board concerning
a proposal to distribute surplus wheat
to the needy.
The organization disclaims political
partisanship. It has received many
letters of Endorsement from persons
prominent in public and private life.
One of its chief aims is to propagandize,
through proper channels. the idea Of
distributing surplus products, that
otherwise would go to waste, to those
who cannot buy and to do 1t on a
Nationwide scale.