European Markets for Oregon Fruits. 123 



is the common thing to see Oregon apples labeled in the fruit Stands, 

 "California Fruit." It is almost the universal thing to see Oregon 

 prunes labeled "California Plums." It is equally common to see the 

 finest Rogue River pears marked "Pears from California." Everywhere 

 our fruit falls to get its proper recognition on account of the general 

 popularity of California fruit, and the fact that it is sufRciently adver- 

 tised to make the labelling of it an advantage in its sale. The dealer 

 will teil you that the Oregon apple, the Oregon pear, and the Oregon 

 prune is superior to those received from California, but at the same time 

 w^ill proceed to label the Oregon products California fruit. 



Nearly all the fruit from the Pacific Coast in the European markets, 

 although received in small packages, is sold by the grocer and the fruit 

 dealer, and at the fruit Stands, by the pound or the piece. The man who 

 sells to the consumer buys by the box, and all of them are especially 

 anxious to advertise the product as either American or California. They 

 have these placards printed "American" and "California" in large and 

 attractive letters and keep them on hand for their fruit sales. It would 

 be of great value to the Oregon product to have a small neatly printed 

 placard "Oregon Apples," "Oregon Pears," "Oregon Plums or Prunes," 

 etc., that could be placed in the boxes that go into the European markets, 

 or sent to the dealers for distribution. This would perhaps be one of the 

 best means for advertising. Other advertising methods, however, should 

 not be overlooked. 



Another important feature in the matter of enlarging the market fo^- 

 fruits of the Northwest, and perhaps the most important of all, is 

 improvement in some form, of methods of getting this fruit to the 

 market, and providing it to the consumer at a less cost. Sixteen cents 

 per pound, for instance, is rather a high price for the green Oregon 

 prune. The price of apples and pears to the consumer ranging from 4 to 

 10 Cents each is rather exorbitant, and hardly compatible with the plan 

 of enlarging the market. One of the first steps in the matter of extension 

 of the markets for Oregon fruits in Europe, is to send a representative 

 into the markets of Europe to study all of the conditions, and to super- 

 intend the whole plan of marketing the fruit. Our fruits are now 

 marketed by people who only have a temporary interest, and that is to 

 get as big a price as possible for the present season. 



The proper marketing of our fruits, and the establishment of an 

 intelligent representative leads into the question "Organization of the 

 Growers." I have no hope or faith whatever in the substantial and 

 successful expansion of our markets in Europe in any other method than 

 by proper Organization of the growers for that purpose. Until that is 

 accomplished everything will be spasmodic and uncertain. 



There was a splendid example of the benefits of proper Organization 

 in protecting the British market for bananas by the great "Banana 

 Import Organization" during the past year. There was a great shortage 

 in the supply of bananas during a large part of the past season, and 

 a splendid opportunity for a temporary profit to be made by this Organ- 

 ization that Controls the impoi'tation of bananas into the British market. 

 On account, however, of their interest in the permanent consumption and 

 maintaining a substantial market, they absolutely refused to raise the 

 price of bananas, and compelled them to be sold at the same price as 

 though the market were perfectly supplied, and the result has been 

 entirely satisfactory to the Organization. 



The primary work, therefore, as it seems to me, necessary to the 

 enlargement of the fi'uit markets of the Northwest in Europe, lies in the 

 perfection of an Organization of the growers for the purpose of handling 

 the European market primarily in their interest. This Organization must 

 find methods of transportation and marketing that will be of the most 

 economical character. They must have representatives in Europe to 

 watch and care for the trade and devise every possible means for extend- 

 ing and improving it. 



