206 Strawberry-Growing 



were shipping on the same day.^ The result was a very 

 unequal distribution of the crop and very poor returns 

 some years. Returns as low as twenty cents for a twenty- 

 four quart crate were not uncommon. It became evi- 

 dent that if the Ozark berry business were to survive 

 there must be a central organization to distribute the 

 fruit. In 1905 the Ozark Fruit Growers' Association was 

 formed for that purpose. How effectively this has been 

 accomplished is shown by the net returns. In 1904, the 

 average returns of twelve local associations was ninety 

 cents a crate. In 1905, the first year of the federation, 

 the average returns were $1.10; in 1906, $1.32; in 1907, 

 $2.13; in 1908, $1.80; in 1909, $1.93; in 1910, $2.31. 

 Each local association has a manager or secretary, and 

 an inspector who passes upon the grade and pack, fol- 

 lowing rules prescribed by the local association. A chief 

 inspector, who is paid by the general organization, visits 

 the local associations frequently to acquaint the inspec- 

 tors with the grade and methods of packing found desir- 

 able. The output of all the local associations is distrib- 

 uted by the general manager of the Ozark Fruit Growers' 

 Association, but the pack of each local association is sold 

 separately, as a unit, on its merits. This is necessary 

 in order to preserve the advantages which location, soil, 

 cultural skill and care in packing give to a group of fruit- 

 growers. The market representatives advise the secre- 

 tary or manager of each local association by letter of the 

 condition on arrival of each car shipped by that associa- 

 tion. Expenses are met by a commission of two per cent 

 on sales. 



1 The OflBce of Markets, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, now makes daily 

 reports during the shipping season of the car-lot movement to different 

 cities. 



