The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-07-12
MELON AND TOM
CODEGOES INTO
EFFECT JULY Ii
crowers to Get Costs as a Min
imum Under Two-State Agree
ment; nj ust Affix Stamps to
Containers

lJOUtdllClS
Under Enabling Acts passed by the
last legislature of the States of Ore
CON and Washington, the melon and
tomato growers of these states have
Drawn ND marketing agreement con-
trolling the production and sale of all
melons and tomatoes grown and Of
fered for sale within these states.
This agreement has been rendered
necessary because of disastrous con-
d;tions within the industry during the
mast several years which have brot
the growers to virtual bankruptcy
and disrupted the orderly channels of
buying and selling to such an extent
that iobbers and retailers were afraid
to adequately supply their trade be-
cause of price uncertainty.
This agreement has been drawn by
representative growers from both
states, working for the past six
months. It was accepted at public
hearings at both Salem and Olympia
by Directors of Agriculture of each
state after determining that it was
first satisfactory to a great majority
of the growers, was equitable in it's
treatment to jobbers and dealers, and
had duly considered the consumer.
A great deal of credit is due Wal
lace Purdin of Wapato, one Of the
growers, who representing the state
Of Washington, has worked tireless-
" upon the formation of this agree
ment and is now confined to the hos
pital. His loss to the enforcement and
organization Of this agreement is
serious to those upon whom it de.
wolves.
Through the operation of this agree
ment certain minimum prices are set
up below which the commodities COW
cred may not be sold. These prices
are based upon actual cost of produc-
ton determined by the respective
state colleges and allow very little, it
any profit to the grower, but do al
low cost Of production. Under it also
the growers are protected from dis
astrous losses in terminal markets
due to over-supply by the control Of
the product at originating points.
Methods Of marketing are so con-
trolled that dealers and jobbers in
terminal markets have at all times an
accurate knowledge Of the volume of
supplies that will be on their respect
I've markets each day; retailers are
assured that if and when they pur-
chase adequate supplies for their
trade for the day, they will not be
obliged to take a loss because of the
quotation of like products by COM
petitors purchased on an uncontrolled
market by competitors; consumers
will be benefited in that they will have
available at all times adequate and
fresh supplies of well-packed and
handled produce at a price which is
less than half the price they are ac-
customed to pay for produce shipped
m from other states. The consumer
will further be protected as to quail
fty by the fact that this agreement
does not make any minimum price
concession for inferior produce, plac-
ing it all in the same price class and
enabling all those engaged in it's
handling to purchase the finest quail
ity available at the same price as
must be asked for inferior commodi-
ties.
This marketing agreement is to be
placed in effect in these states as it
AFFECTS cantaloupes and tomatoes on
the morning of July 18th, at which
Time moderate supplies of locally
grown produce will be available.
offices have been established at
Gascoigne & Fyfe. Stamp depot for
Pasco will be announced later.