48 Bulletin 85 



however, small plantings of Mediterranean Sweets, Blood Oranges, 

 and various seedlings. Because of climatic conditions, the oranges of 

 the Salt River Valley have established an enviable reputation at mar- 

 ket. The fruit is highly colored, sweet and juicy, with a thin, tender 

 skin. The citrus industry is in a much more satisfactory condition 

 than is the deciduous fruit business. 



The greater part of the citrus output of the Valley is shipped 

 through the Arizona Orange Association, an incorporated stock com- 

 pany composed of growers who have organized for marketing. Hold- 

 ings of stock in this association vary with individual acreages and 

 every share of stock carries with it one vote. The association main- 

 tains a packing house in Phoenix, where the fruit is assorted, graded 

 and packed for market. Methods of selling the crop through the 

 association have varied considerably in past years. In 1914 and 191 5 

 the oranges were sold through a general selling agency, which operated 

 branch offices in most of the principal markets of the country. In 

 1916 it was decided that the association should undertake to sell direct 

 to the wholesale trade, and a sales manager, who was also a member 

 of the association, was charged with the duty of handling the deal. 

 Shortly after the season opened, it was necessary for the sales manager 

 to resign from his position and another member was chosen to carry 

 on the work. This unexpected change in plans at the last moment 

 handicapped the association and, while the returns were fairly satis- 

 factory, it was not possible for the association to handle the crop as 

 efficiently as had been planned. The 19 17 crop is being handled again 

 by the association, which has entered into agreements with members 

 of the trade in many of the principal markets. It remains to be seen 

 whether this procedure will prove satisfactory. 



In 1916, 71 cars of oranges were shipped. Most of the citrus out- 

 put finds a market in the large cities of the East. The Arizona orange 

 lipens in time to meet the heavy demand during the holiday season. 

 This district is one of the very few orange producing districts in the 

 country which can place fruit on the market in time for the Thanks- 

 giving trade, while the Christmas holidays find a considerable portion 

 of the crop at market or in transit. It will be seen that marketing 

 conditions are especially favorable for citrus fruit from this district, 

 which enjoys a near-monopoly during a season of the year when the 

 demand for citrus fruit is at its height. This earliness of maturity, 

 coupled with excellent quality, causes the orange from the Salt River 

 Valley to command a decided premium over such other citrus offer- 



