THE MONTHLY BULLETIN'. 43 



unforeseen difficulties. The crop of 1916 ripened and was harvested 

 three weeks earlier than usual and just when the company was pressed 

 for time in which to get its equipment together. Added to this was 

 the unusual high cost of materials and the unprecedented shortage of 

 ears. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the crop was housed without 

 appreciahle delay or inconvenience to the grower. 



When the selling season began the new company met with resistance 

 on all sides. Jobbers throughout the eastern states had met with 

 unpleasant experiences with dried peaches during recent years, when 

 the market had fallen off and they had been forced to hold stocks iu 

 storage for a long time, and many refused to buy. A frequent expres- 

 sion was. 'I would not buy peaches at any price." Coupled with this 

 was ih, destructive work of competitive interests who were spreading 

 information far and wide that the growers' company was doomed to 

 an early death. In spite of this discouraging situation the fall selling 

 season of 1916 was reasonably successful, partly because the company 

 consistently warned the wholesale merchant of each intended advance 

 in price, thus giving him an opportunity to make a profit for himself. 

 The results obtained thus far have been eminently satisfactory and a 

 la idc proportion of the crop has been sold. 



But why shouldn't the crop sell? Sun-dried peaches are today the 

 mosl economical food the housewife can buy. They are selling in all 

 markets at lower prices than are being asked for other dried fruits. 

 In the evaporated condition they are much less expensive today than 



fl ruined article, owing to the high cost of tin plate, and also of sugar. 



both of which commodities enter materially into the cost of canned 

 fin its. They are also rich in fruit-sugar and mineral matter and tend 

 to balance up a diet of meat, eggs, flour, etc. The acid of the fruit 

 neutralizes the fats of the meat. Innumerable attractive dishes can 

 be concocted containing sun-dried peaches which are economical and 

 palatable. 



The growers' company is packing its dried fruit under the Ribbon 

 brands, which have been so standardized that the consumer will know 

 what to expect in goods sold under that brand. Ribbon brands stand 

 for quality. 



To illustrate what can be gained by cooperation, the average subscrip- 

 tion for stock in this company is $121.00; the average delivery per 

 grower is six tons. It therefore follows that an increase of one cent 

 per pound would almost exactly return to the grower in one year the 

 amount of his entire stock subscription. As a matter of fact, the peach 

 growers this year will receive approximately five and one-half cents 

 as againsl two and three-quarters cents per pound last year. 



The example set by the peach growers in California can be followed 

 by growers of other commodities with equal success, providing they base 

 their organization on fundamental principles. Such a company must be 

 properly financed, must have control of the production, and must make 

 the grower a cash payment on delivery. California particularly needs 

 rative organi :ations, because it is so far from the markets where 

 its products are sold. Conditions in this state now point to the fact 

 that growers will continue to cooperate and California will presently 

 attain to a condition for which it lias already a reputation, namely, of 

 being ''the best organized state in the Union." 



