MARKETS, MARKETING, CO-OPERATION 923 



apples sold at $3.20 per barrel. These were purchased on the assumption 

 that the interior of the barrel would be decidedly inferior to the surface 

 layer. This gentleman followed the apples to the retailer and found 

 that they were sold at the rate of $9.60 a barrel. The retailer 

 stated that if he had believed the label true he would have willingly 

 paid $5.00 a barrel for them. Further investigation among both 

 retailers and wholesalers in that city brought out the fact that 

 honest packing was estimated at about 5 per cent of the fruit product 

 put upon the market, and that 95 per cent of it was more or less dis- 

 honest. 



Until fruit producers correct this defect in their method of marketing 

 their product, they cannot hope for the best results. Neither can they 

 blame the commission merchant and other middlemen for taking what 

 seems to be advantage of them. Everyone should aim to have his goods 

 fully up to what they are claimed to be in quality and then insist on fair 

 treatment by the dealer. 



Co-operation in the marketing of fruit is becoming the rule rather 

 than the exception. At a recent meeting of the fruit growers of Kansas, 

 Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri for the purpose of forming a fruit growers' 

 association of these states, it was stated on good authority that 90 per cent 

 of the Missouri fruit growers not marketing co-operatively were not making 

 the fruit business pay, while over 90 per cent of those selling co-operatively 

 were making good money at it. Many of those present gave testimony to 

 this effect and cited specific instances to substantiate their claims. It was 

 shown that in 1912 grape growers along the Missouri River on one side 

 received an average price of 1 Yi cents per pound for grapes, whereas just 

 across the river grapes marketed co-operatively brought an average price 

 of 2| cents. 



Some Successful Co-operative Associations. — The Farmers' Incor- 

 porated Co-operative Society of Rockville, Iowa, has been in existence for 

 twenty-four years. It markets general farm products, particularly corn, 

 wheat, oats and barley, and purchases for its members feed, fuel, building 

 material, machinery, clothing and some other items. It does an annual 

 business of about $600,000. In the spring wheat belt, including the states 

 of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota, co-opera- 

 tive associations are numbered by the hundreds. These consist of co-opera- 

 tive elevators, creameries, cow-testing associations, poultry associations, 

 and organizations for buying farm supplies. Minnesota claims first rank 

 in co-operative business enterprises. In January, 1914, it reports 2013 

 co-operative establishments. These did a total business of $60,760,000 in 

 1913. Co-operative creameries led with a total business of $21,675,000. 

 There were 270 farmers' elevators with a membership of 34,500. To these 

 enterprises may be added co-operative telephone and insurance companies. 

 The total amount of insurance outstanding in January, 1914, was $342,- 

 000,000. The cost of each $100 worth of insurance in force was 18 cents 



