THE INCOMES AND OUTCOMES OF THE HUDSON 

 RIVER FRUIT EXCHANGE 



Walter R. Clarke, Milton, N. Y. 



In this talk on our experiment in cooperation, I do not 

 wish to give you the idea that we have discovered a Utopia 

 for all the ills of the fruit grower. It is juust to be the story 

 of the failures and successes of an association starting under 

 difficulties with just as much of the conservative to break 

 down as you have here in good old New England. 



Somehow the idea of getting together had been 

 preached at us and to us so long that it seemed as if it had 

 fallen on deaf ears, but it all happened when Ave least ex- 

 pected it. Charles E. Thurston of the Thurston Fruit Auc- 

 tion Company of New York came to see one or two of our 

 growers in relation to the forming of an association to sell 

 produce on New York docks. While this was not found 

 feasible it was through him that our Exchange was founded 

 and it was surely no easy task to obtain enough growers to 

 make even a start. Several meetings were held and a Con- 

 stitution and By-Laws were adopted. 



On April 20, 1912, the Hudson River Fruit Exchange 

 was incorporated Avith a capital stock of $2000 divided into 

 100 shares at $20 each and a member must own at least one 

 share of stock and not more than four, the stock itself carry- 

 ing no voting power. 



The members themselves must be growers of fruit and 

 accepted by the Executive Committee, which consists of 

 seven members elected by the Exchange, and this Committee 

 elects the President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasur- 

 er; has general oversight and control of the business of the 

 organization and the hiring of the ^Manager and his assist- 

 ants. Meetings of the Executive Committee are held month- 

 ly. At these meetings Financial Report is read and so the 



