FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 39 



plants, box factories, sawmills, and other auxiliaries are alleged to be 

 burdensome to the individual member, this organization controls i)racti- 

 cally 60% of California's citrus crop which is normally placed at about 

 40,000 cars per annum. 



In Florida we find a citrus fruit growers' organization following much 

 after the California plan, but with less than 20% of the state's crop 

 under control. There being only a limited tonnage available and mov- 

 ing during a period not to exceed six months of a year, the Florida Ex 

 change is only warranted in operating but a few sales ofiices of its own, 

 using principally for an outlet for its fruit the auctions of a few of 

 the larger markets generally oversupplied. 



We turn now to the Missouri-Arkansas Fruit Belt where organization 

 among the growers has had thorough promotion — where a federation of 

 local fruit growers' associations was undertaken the past season or two 

 with some considerable degree of success. A central association that 

 had been formed of local associations as units, by judicious advertising 

 endeavored last season to attract desirable bujers to points of shipment, 

 and for the sale of the major part of its shipments consisting mostly of 

 peaches depended upon its personal sales representatives specially em- 

 ployed and assigned to many of the northern markets. 



The principle of operation seemed feasible and commendable since the 

 association retained entire control of its products until paid for by the 

 carlot purchasers, but since the services of the market salesmen or 

 representatives were required only about 45 to GO days the association 

 was dependent upon local talent it could procure among the farming 

 communities, rather than competent and experienced salesmen obviously 

 not available for short time employment. It can be easily understood, 

 therefore, at what disadvantages the association operated with men not 

 thoroughly experienced in the selling end of the fruit business — in fact, 

 in some instances without any acquaintance of the trade or knowledge of 

 local conditions in the markets to which they were assigned. 



We may look to Louisiana for light on the system of cash selling as 

 disclosed through the operation of several strawberry associations in 

 that localit}'. By reason of that section's early production of the popu- 

 lar berry each season generally opens with a liberal attendance of repre- 

 sentative and transient buyers to whom cash sales of berries are made. 

 Working under these conditions in the past the prices have been governed 

 largely by competition among the attending buyers and often without 

 sufficient regard for market values prevailing at the points of con- 

 sumption. 



For information regarding distant market conditions these berry 

 grower's associations in most part hav^e been dependent upon dealers or 

 commission merchants directly, or indirectly interested in prospective 

 purchases or consignments of surplus cars, a source not considered the 

 best guidance in determining proper values at shipping points. 



Cash sales under these conditions being somewhat subject to unfair 

 combination among the buyers and speculators, cannot be depended upon 

 always to secure for the growers full value for their products. 



In Texas there has been in existence for several years past an asso- 

 ciation with a membership comprising 1100 truck growers and which has 

 shipped annually about 3,000 carloads of vegetables. At the present 

 time we find the membership of this association in general uprising in 



