THE POULTRY PRODUCING COMMUNITY 
Any given brand is the exclusive property of the Local 
Association using it, and the fruit under this brand is always 
packed in the same locality, and therefore of uniform quality. 
This is of great advantage in marketing, as the trade soon 
learns that the pack is reliable. 
There are more than eighty associations, covering every 
citrus fruit district in California, and packing nearly two hun- 
dred reliable and guaranteed brands of oranges and lemons. 
The several local Exchanges designate one man each from 
their membership as their representative, and he is elected a 
director of the California Fruit Growers’ Exchange. By this 
method the policy-making and governing power of the organi- 
zation remains in the hands of the local Exchanges. 
From top to bottom the organization is planned, dominated 
and in general detail controlled absolutely by fruit growers, 
and for the common good of all members. No corporation nor 
individual reaps from it either dividends or private gain. 
So far we have dealt almost exclusively with the organiza- 
tion of the Exchange, its co-operative aspects, and general 
policy at home. Equally important is its organization in the 
markets. 
Seeking to free itself from the shifting influence of specu- 
lative trading, by taking the business out of the hands of 
middlemen at home, the Exchange found it quite as important 
to maintain the control of its own affairs in the markets. 
For this purpose the Exchange established a system of ex- 
clusive agencies in all the principal cities of the country, em- 
ploying as agents active, capable young men of experience in 
the fruit business. Most of these agents are salaried, and have 
no other business of any kind to engage their attention, and 
none of the Exchange representatives handle any other citrus 
fruits. These agents sell to smaller cities contiguous to their 
headquarters, or in the territory covered by their districts. 
Over all these agencies are two general or traveling agents, 
with authority to supervise and check up the various offices. 
These general agents maintain in their offices at Chicago and 
Omaha, a complete bureau of information, through which all 
agents receive every day detailed information as to sales of 
Exchange fruit in other markets the previous day. Possessing 
this data, the selling agent cannot be taken advantage of as to 
40 
