Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-08-26
War Brings Rio
Crande RichEra
Expect to Sell SIS, OOO, 900
Crop of Vegetables and
Fruit by September.

McALLEN, TEXAS.-A war as
signment to provide tons of food for
the nation has brought the richest
agricultural era in its history to the
lower Rio Grande valley of Texas,
which completes with California and
Florida as a citrus fruit producer.
In the year ending next Septem-
Der, the valley will have sold about
5000, 600 worth of citrus fruit,
vegetables and cotton to civilians
and the soldiers Of the United
States.
Such farming riches are unparal-
leled in nearly 40 years Of crop pro-
duction along the delta Of the Rio
Grande, lush acreage compressed
into an area 100 miles long and 40
miles wide. Not once since the rail-
roads first pushed into this section
in 1904 has years farm income
! topped the $4,000, 900 mark. The
calendar year Of 1912 was credited
with $49, 100000.
Calendar and farming years are
different down here next door to Old
Mexico. Although farming goes on
the year round. the big crop sea-
sons start each October and end the
following September. Citrus fruit
begins moving to market in Octo-
Der and In December and January
the winter vegetable crop comes into
harvest, continuing through March.
Spring Vegetables.
The spring vegetable crop, plant
ed while winter crops still are in
the ground, is harvested in May and
June. By that time the cotton crop,
planted in March and April, is ready
for picking and this continues
through September, when it is time
all over again for another fruit crop.
The 1942-43 citrus yield here has
been by far the most profitable in
the memory Of the valley. 1t also
is one Of the largest.
The fruit season closed at the end
Of May. Shipments of $4,000 cars
of fresh fruit, valued at 81 900 to
81 200 each, by June l had yielded
revenues of SOS, 900, 900 to $50, 900, 900
for the period which began in Oc-
tober, 1912.
Fruit which went into canning
plants and dehydration plants to be
processed into canned juice, canned
fruit and dried stock feed, is worth
an additional $15,0OO.0 900. Virtually
all such processing was at an end
by May of this year.
Citrus prices proved a surprising
element in the 1942-43 crop season.
Prices were average" until Feb
ruary, when the demand shot sky
ward and took prices with it. Grow
ers who had sold fruit for $3.50 and
S. a ton in depression years mar
keted the same type of fruit in 1913
for $40, $50 and $50 ton.
Labor costs rose also, so that all
OF the rich returns the farmers re-
ceived were not profits.
Winter Vegetables.
Winter vegetables loaded out of
the valley from January through
March totaled $1,000 cars worth
$4,000, 900. The spring tomato and
bean crops now in the harvest stage
likely will produce an additional
$l0,OOO,000 in revenue. Tomatoes
alone are expected to total 1000. 900
boxes in fresh shipments, plus mil
lions more for canning plants to
meet demands of the army, navy,
lend-lease administration and other
federal purchasing agencies. Virtu-
ally all Of the spring bean crop is
going to the canneries.
The summers cotton crop is grow
ing well in spite of a shortage of
moisture. 1t should yield at least
$4,000 600, based on government
fixed prices.
Valley farmers have been paying
of mortgages by the score since the
first Of the year. The eyes of in
vestors have turned toward this Sec
ton.
The return on the entire valleys
citrus investment of $50, 600, 900 was
almost one-third-$40, 900, 000-this
year alone.