42 BULLETIN 547, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



able to exercise careful supervision over the distribution of the 

 products of its members and also to secure daily information with 

 regard to conditions in the various markets. The exchange has a 

 number of departments which undertake different lines of work. 

 Thus, the sales department looks after the marketing of the fruit; 

 the traffic department takes up matters relative to transportation; 

 the field department assists in the standardization of the fruit and 

 its preparation for market, and also in securing new members; the 

 advertising department handles the work of advertising the products 

 of the members; and the legal department keeps the exchange and 

 its members informed with regard to legislation affecting the industry. 

 Supplies needed by the growers are purchased through a separate 

 organization known as the Fruit Growers' Supply Co. This company 

 reports handling a business of over $4,000,000 during the year ending 

 August 31, 1916. The supplies purchased by the members through 

 this organization include box shooks, labels, tissue wraps, spray 

 materials, fertilizers, and other packing-house and orchard supplies. 



CALIFORNIA ALMOND GROWERS' EXCHANGE. 



Unsatisfactory conditions surrounding the marketing of almonds 

 led to the organization of the California Almond Growers' Exchange. 

 The first almond growers' association was organized almost 20 years 

 ago and similar organizations were formed from time to time. As 

 these organizations found that they could not accomplish a great 

 deal individually, it was decided to unite, and as a result the Cali- 

 fornia Almond Growers' Exchange was established in 1910. When 

 first organized the exchange consisted of 11 associations made up of 

 about 230 growers, while at the present time there are 18 associations 

 with a total membership of about 1,000. 



The purpose of the exchange is to secure a fair price for the product 

 of the member associations at as low a cost of marketing as possible. 

 Through further centralization, duplication of sales machinery is 

 avoided, more efficient distribution can be secured, and a general 

 control of the product makes advertising on an extensive scale 

 possible. 



The California Almond Growers' Exchange consists of a number 

 of local nonstock associations with a membership fee ranging from 

 $1 to $2.50. The local associations are formed in communities where 

 sufficient almonds are grown to make this advisable, and the associa- 

 tions thus formed affiliate with the central exchange. By special 

 arrangements, growers in districts where there are no local associa- 

 tions may market through the exchange. A contract date is set 

 after which no growers' tonnage will be accepted for sale. In this 

 way a fairly accurate estimate of the prospective crop is secured which 

 enables the sales department of the exchange to make arrangements 

 for placing the crop. 



