ORGANIZATION OF PRODUCERS 105 



Thus far no account has been taken of differences in the 

 quality of fruit contributed by various members to the pool. 

 Obviously it would be unfair if a producer of fine fruit 

 received merely the same rate for each pound of his crop 

 as a careless grower got for his. The problem is, therefore, 

 how can the advantages of pooling be combined with recog- 

 nition and reward of efficiency? The answer is found in 

 the grading rules. Growers do not receive a flat rate a 

 pound for all fruit shipped in any pool, but a different rate 

 a pound for each grade, and the rate is only the same to 

 all growers for the same grade. That is, proceeds from 

 the sales of cars are not lumped together. Each grade has 

 a separate account, and only prices for the same grade for 

 the duration of the pool are reduced to a rate a pound. 

 It follows that since the higher grades bring the best prices 

 a grower with a large proportion of good fruit will receive 

 larger total returns than will a poor grower for the same 

 weight of fruit. 



This leads to a difficulty that is constantly arising with 

 associations. Members whose fruit continually grades low 

 are likely to become restive, and at times even charge dis- 

 crimination against themselves on the part of the manager 

 or directors. For it is characteristic of most farmers to 

 believe their individual product equal or superior to that 

 of their neighbors. Then, when one member finds that 

 ordinarily only 10 per cent, of his crop is graded as fancy, 

 while another member secures 20 per cent, fancy, and that 

 the f cUicy grade brings a substantial premium a pound over 

 the lower qualities, he is much more apt to shout fraud than 

 to hunt for his own shortcomings as a grower. His dis- 

 satisfaction may work itself out in two very different man- 

 ners. If impetuous and unreasoning, he is quite likely to 

 withdraw from the association. If thoughtful and teach- 

 able he comes to the conclusion that discrimination against 



