European Markets for Oregon Fruits. 119 



Our pears compete with the early ones from California, the eastern 

 part of the United States, but primarily with those from France. 



There is generally at the present time in all of the fruit markets 

 of Great Britain a strong demand for increased importation of Ore- 

 gon pears; more especially of those coming into the markets in Novem- 

 ber and December. I consider the opportunity for the marketing of 

 Oregon pears in the British markets from present appearances far 

 more inviting than any other class of fruits which we can produce. 



I have met with so many surprises in the matter of raw fruits 

 in the British markets from all parts of the world that I am not 

 prepared to assert that even the Oregon grape and cherry will not 

 some day find a profitable market in the British Isles: 



When you consider that summer peaches are delivered in the 

 British markets from South Africa in splendid condition by refriger- 

 ator ships, taking from 17 to 20 days for the trip, it is not too much 

 to expect that on the completion of the Panama Canal, we may be able 

 to ship from the Northwest, our most delicate fruits in the fresh state 

 by refrigerator steamers. 



It would be a surprise to the Oregon fruit grower to visit the fruit 

 markets of Great Britain as well as those of all the European countries, 

 to discover the vast quantity of inferior, immature, scabby, scaly and 

 rotten stuff sold as fresh fruit. A very large per cent of the fruit 

 consumed in the European markets would not be gathered from the 

 ground by an up-to-date Oregon fruit grower. This class of fruit 

 is not only consumed by the poor people, but represents the quality 

 of the large consumption of fruit by the middle and fairly well-to-do 

 people. A very large proportion of the fruit shipped into Great Britain 

 from the United States is of an inferior quality, gathered from the 

 grornd in a most indiscriminate way, put into barreis, and shipped 

 regardless of the reputation of the grower. Much of it is covered 

 with Scale, scab, and is also wormy. Oregon is making its reputa- 

 tion by the quality and the character of the pack of the fruit shipped. 

 This is giving it the highest price for its product. and making a profitable 

 and substantial mar!:et. It is important that this Standard of qualitv 

 fruit, and character of package be permanently maintained. 



Our strongest competitor in the apple markets of Great Britain 

 will be for many years to come, Canadian fruit. By organizations and 

 associations for marketing, and by laws regulating Standards, by exam- 

 ination and government inspection, the Canadians are improving their 

 reputation and markets in Great Britain, and if in the re-organization 

 of the fiscal System of Great Britain, which is now being much dis- 

 cussed, there should be a preferential tariff^ established on fruit in 

 favor of British possessions then Canadians would still have another 

 advantage over the United States apple trade in Great Britain. 



Oregon and the Pacific Northwest now hold the best position in 

 the apple markets of the British Empire, and if through proper organ- 

 izations for producing and marketing their fruits they take advantage 

 of every opportunity in reducing the cost of transportation and mar- 

 keting methods, I am convinced that for many years to come they will 

 be able to command the best apple markets of the country. 



The possibilities in the British markets for the Oregon apple are 

 previously been led to believe. It is a mistake of the horticulturalists of 

 previous been led to believe. It is a mistake of the horticulturalists of 

 the Northwest to imagine that their markets for fresh fruits in Europe 

 are to be confined to the winter apple. There is no reason whatever 

 why the Oregon Gravenstein, and apples of a similar quality and season 

 can not find a profitable market in Europe. This year quite a few 

 Oregon Gravensteins are to be found in the British markets, bringing 



