CHAPTER XVIII 

 MARKETING FRUIT 



MOST people will no doubt be surprised to learn that the 

 first successful cooperative fruit-growers' marketing asso- 

 ciation in the West was established in Colorado. The 

 California Fruit-growers' Exchange has eclipsed all other 

 similar organizations because of the immense volume of 

 business transacted, but the first real attempt at organiza- 

 tion in that state was in 1893 1 and the present organization 

 was perfected in 1905. The Grand Junction Fruit- 

 growers' Association of Grand Junction, Colorado, had its 

 beginning in 1891, when a few growers agreed to ship their 

 crops together and appointed one of their number manager 

 of the association for the season. This arrangement con- 

 tinued with varying success up to 1897, when it became 

 apparent that the increased business, if no other cause, 

 would necessitate employing a manager by the year, who 

 would devote his entire time to the association. Ac- 

 cordingly this was done, and the output has increased 

 gradually, until now a million dollars' worth of business is 

 done a year. 



The association idea has become thoroughly established 

 throughout the entire West, and at the present time there 

 are very few communities where much fruit is shipped 



1 Bailey, " Cyclopedia of Agriculture." 

 302 



