, 1935-09-08
To The Herald:

To The Herald:
I see by the papers that the cit
rus shipping season will open Oct
l. at least thirty days before the
fruit Is ripe and fit to eat, and
though I have watched closely ]
have not seen q word from
youn against sEch an. idiotic
not to say dishonest stunt. II
seems TO me that since the ship
pers nd growers. will never learn
anything, the papers ought to take
a hand.
You know and I know. as does
anybody else that knows Valley
fru.., that our fruit Is OF the very
highest quality known, WHEN III
IS RIPE. We also know that II Is
unfit for use when 10 is green and
that the shipping Of II in that state
Is not only ruinous TO all concern
ed but a disgrace to common de-
cency, TO say the least. / want 70
say TO you in all sincerity that
have been here sixteen years and ]
have never seen any citrus fruit
fully ripe and at its best before
Nov. !. and then only the extra
early varieties, while Marsh and
Thompson and others Of the best
varieties are not ripe before Dec. /
Shipping before those dates car
only result in disaster. and Just
why II Is persisted in Is beyond me
The superior quality OF our fruit
when ripe is our best hope Of suc-
cessfully competing with the older
established citrus districts. and ev-
erybody knows that It Is the best
grown anywhere. Then why shoulc
We deliberately throw away our best
asset by shipping our fruit greer
and unfit for human use? Yet we
are doing Just that. year after year
with the result that the grower, in.
stead OF getting a fair return on his
investment as he should, can't ever
ray his taxes. When approached
on the subject he says, yes. I know
what you say Is true but what can
do2 II I don't do II the other fell
low WI and I have got to get what
I can while I car. Besides. Flori.
da Is doing 1t and I have got 70 gel
what I can while the price is good.
Ye gods and little fishesl
Why Is the price good n tho
opening OF the season. Becaus,
the buyer doesn't know the fruit 4,
still green so expects 10 get gooc
fruit and Is willing to pay a gooc
Price for II. That ought TO show
any man that II good ripe fruit were
shipped throughout the season Q
good price would be had for tho
whole crop instead Of for a few
boxes. The man who killed tho
goose that laid the golden egg didn't
know what the result would be, but
the citrus grower who ships greer
fruit knows what the result il bound
70 be because he has seen II year
d.ter year. And Instead OF our hav-
ing the reputation OF sending out
the best fruit Oh the market VIC
are getting the name OF being
bunch Of crooks and our fruit not
1T to eat. Everywhere I 20 and
brag on WI fruit I am told "Oh
yeah. I bought some OF your fine
Valley fruit once and I wouldn't
ask my hogs TO eat IL. III you can't
grow bet er fruit than that you had
better quit"
To NY mind both the shipper and
the grower are to blame. Someone
who knows our fruit Is the finest
IN the world when ripe. but does not
know when II Is ripe. Cor don't care
Just so he makes a few dollars or
it,, sends In an order to a shipper
for a a OF fruit ut a good price
The shipper goes 70 the grower and
says. Look here, Jones. I've got ar
order for a a OF fruit az 50 much
and you've got the fruit" Jones
says, Yes. I've got the fruit, but II
Is not ripe" Shipper says. What
the H do you care whether it's
ripe or not? The man wants II and
Is willing TO pay for It." Well
says Jones. II I don't sell Il some.
body else will. 50 here goes" The
car Is shipped. green and not ut "a
eat. The bottom Immediately drops
out OF the market and never re-
covers before the very last OF the
season, II ever The balance OF the
crop is sacrificed for a profit or
one car.
Is there no remedy think there
are just two ways 1t may be done
One would be TO pass and enforce
a law making the shipping OF greer
fruit a criminal offense. as Il should
be. and the other In for the news
papers to warn the world against
buying green fruit. The first prob
ably could be done, as II would be
interfering with business" The
second could be done II the papers
have the good Of the industry and
the prosperity OF the Valley, as vel
as the protection OF the public
against fraud. at heart. and / am
appealing 10 you 10 do what you
can In the premises. And II any
thing is to be done It must be done
at once. as In less than thirty DAYS
the fat will be in the fire and the
market ruined for the coming sea
son. as usual. I know that there
will be no fruit lit to ship by Oct
/. and that II II is done II viii b
disastrous TO all concerned.
Sincerely, :
Sam y. Baker.
San Benito.
Sent 4 IQ2S