, 1935-04-28

pTOpLleSleS nave Deen mace Dy ON
shippers. and growers are being told
that the tomato deal will be q COM
plete failure. We feel that 1t Is unfair
TO the growers, and TO business In
general. to mold at this time a SEN
timent of dismal gloom. 1t appears
that Florida may run pretty heavy
shipments up into May, but their
movement should not interfere SER
iously. YOakum section may come
right into our deal, but 1t Is doubt
full II that section could supply the
City Of New York alone. With warm
er weather coming, II Is still possible
that the demand may be sufficient
10 warrant a good price for all the
available supply that we will have.
As the weather gets warmer. II Is
not unusual for the consumption TO
increase 100 cars or more q day. Since
the tomato is one OF our big paying
crops, we are not willing, at this
time. TO be stampeded into the be-
lief that We must give 1t away. un-
less outside competition forces US
TO do SO.
To Survey Territory
This coming week a committee
IRON the growers association, COM
posed Of r.. Roy Ruff, president.
Homer r. Huntley. secretary, and
others. will make a trip 10 Compel
ing sections making a thorough sur
vey OF present and anticipated sup
plies Of tomatoes, As well as inveS-
tigating the condition Of the crop.
Various reports have been in the
press and circulated generally, indi-
eating that the Valley farmer Is due
to take about &c a pound for his to-
matoes. This committee, on its re-
turn, will be In q position 70 make
recommendations, and II q mini
mum price Is necessary, the Stabili-
cation committee will set the same.
While ~a4panicky feeling seems to be
prevalent due TO the unfavorable
opinions expressed, we feel that It
Is too early to make any definite
prophesy, as most anything can
happen in Dur competing sections
which could still give Us an extreme
" favorable deal, as has been EVIL
denced here In the last two weeks
with our hail storms, wind, etc.
Want Equitable Price
We realize that business interests,
as well as the farmer himself, has
been looking forward TO @ SubStan-
tial revenue from the tomato crop.
and although some shippers are
talking about opening the deal at lc
a pound, we are IN that that low
price will be unnecessary. Our move
ment will be very small until after
May 10 and We have every indica-
ton OF a short crop. 1t is the intent
OF the GorwerS' association at this
time 70 put the crop through just as
few marketing channels as pos
sible. and since nearly all tomato
growers are members OF the organi-
Zation we feel that the shippehs who
are cooperating with the growers W..
get the bulk of the business.
After taking into consideration
all the factors entering into the to-
mato marketing situation, and our
survey Of competing sections, and
If we find that the price TO the grow
er here is below that to which he Is
entitled, we shall do as We have
done in the past SeaSons-set a mini
mum price which will be fair to all
parties concerned. The setting and
maintaining Of a minimum price on
onions during the recent Willacy
county deal. resulted in an immed-
late raise in the price to the grow
ers. This was done at a time when
the price was declining and unques-
tionably headed for the rocks, In
spite Of the fact that the supplies
were very limited, demonstrating
again the value OF the vegetable
growers association to the Valley.
Our organization is not working
blindly on these matters. and It's
efforts to bring greater and more
equitable returns, are along ethical
and common sense lines.