The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-02-20
APPLE AREA is
CUT TO FOURTH
OF MAXIMUM
Annual Meeting of Big Y
Recounts Beginnings 25
Years Ago; j. A. Mclean
Reelected Director

The Yakima Fruit Growers AS
ISOLATION held their annual district
meeting at the Masonic Temple
Monday afternoon with President
Austin woodward, General Mana
ger w. j. Hebert and Field Manager
G. G. Aller present. Local Manager
II. w. Desgranges submits the fol-
lowing report Of the meeting:
The Association has past the
quarter century mark since its Or
ganization. The big Y is the
pioneer cooperative organization in
the valley, not only In point OF
years, but in all these years IL has
occupied a prominent place in the
ranks In all efforts to advance the
best interests Of the fruit interests.
Prior to the organization OF the
Yakima Valley Fruit Growers Asso-
citation, q local cooperative associa-
ton and 1t was through its mana
ger, E. M. Sly, that the larger and
more effective organization came
into existance. Incidents Of early
days were recalled. In those days
strawberries were the principle
crop. While the quality was unsur-
passed, the manner OF marketing
was SO haphazard that returns were
not profitable. II was through the
Big Y that the pack was Standard
lied and the marketing put on Lob.
basis and Kennewick gained an en-
viable reputation for It's strawber-
ries. The growing OF inferior var
ieties and putting out an indifferent
pack has initiated against the dis
trict. The Big Y is sponsoring the
planting Of the Improved Clark's
Seeding and an earnest effort is
being made to regain our former
prestage with corresponding benefit
to the district. a. ta .... ."
Asparagus has proven a profit
able crop and in the development
of this industry the Big Y has play
ed an important part. It was the
Big Y that brought about the can
ming Of All Green asparagus. This
innovation has revolutionized the
canning OF asparagus. So favorable
was the green grass received in the
markets that California is rapid
ly changing from the white to the
green pack. Natural conditions are
favorable to its production and the
Big Y is sparing no effort in plac-
ing the industry on q sound and
profitable basis.
It was revealed that this district
is rapidly changing from apples to
other crops. Out of the 1000 acres
OF apple orchards few years ago,
less than 400 remain. The Big Y
is keeping abreast with the chang
ed conditions. New Crops are be-
ing specialized, attractive advertis-
ing matter prepared and its travel
ing salesman, MIR. M. A. Peacock,
who has had extensive experience
in the handling and marketing of
vegetables and fruits has been as
signed to the task of selling and ex-
tending the markets for these pro-
ducts.
The active membership now num-
bers l73, twelve Of whom have been
with the Association from the be-
ginning. Thirty-four other for more
than ten years.
During these twenty-five years
the Association has enjoyed a steady
growth and is now the largest ship
ped out Of the valley. It has built
modern cold storages throughout
the Yakima valley and its brand
the Big " is known in all parts OF
the world. Notwithstanding the
heavy losses suffered through the
depression recent survey of its
assets made by the Bany for cooper
atives, places its net worth at SS23.-
10000, indicating very healthy H.
ancial condition.
J. A. Mclean was reelected as a
member of the board of trustees.