STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. I4I 



$200,000 being the result of speculation, and the profits to the 

 middlemen. 



In May, 19 12, the Almond Growers' association sent out 

 blanks to each member of the exchange, and collected data as 

 to the probable amount of the crop to be harvested, varieties, etc. 

 After these data were all tabulated the directors got together, 

 and from the figures of previous years set a price at which they 

 could ofi'er the crop. Eastern brokers were advised of the price 

 and the quantities offered, and were requested to bid for the 

 amount wanted. The crop was estimated at 2000 tons, or 200 

 carloads. The next day after these letters reached the East, 

 telegrams began coming in, making reservations, and by the 

 second day the crop was all sold and some 30 carloads over ; and 

 this, fully six weeks before the first almond was harvested. 

 This was possible because the buyers knew that the prices would 

 not be changed and they were safe. 



The Cured Fruit Exchange was organized last year. This 

 was for the purpose of handling raisins, prunes, dried peaches, 

 etc. For the preceding two years raisins had not returned the 

 cost of production, and prunes were selling on a three and three 

 and one-half cent basis — barely paying expenses. The organ- 

 izer began incorporating local bodies in September of last year, 

 with no thought of handling that crop, but by the first of Janu- 

 ary, 191 3, over 400 carloads of fruit were tied up in nine local 

 associations. Brokers discovered that dried fruit was getting 

 scarce, and advanced the price one-fourth cent per pound. Soon 

 another advance, in a few weeks another, and so on, until a full 

 two cents a pound advance was reached. This amounts to $40 

 a ton, and on 400 cars, means a net advance over the old price 

 of $160,000. 



The Apple Growers' Exchange, of Hood River, Oregon, is 

 another typical example of the advance of price to the producer. 

 Before the organization was effected apples were bringing the 

 grower about 85c. a box. The first year of the organization 

 the price was boosted to $2.00 a box, and the next year to 

 $2.60. 



Another valuable feature of the exchanges, that cannot be 

 overlooked, is their advertising advantages. With every box of 

 apples from Hood River goes forward a large lithographed trade 

 mark, advertising the goods as well as Hood River. Ninety per 



