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lished a market price, if the speculator in " shorts " has not previously 

 attempted it, and then the producer begins to sell. The small producer 

 depends upon the buyer and packer, the larger one upon the commis- 

 sion house, the " sharp one " upon the Eastern representative. In this 

 manner and through these channels, the fruit is collected and packed, 

 or shipped, finally passing through the jobbers and wholesalers to the 

 retailers and then to the consumers. This process, with the cost of 

 freight added, increases the cost to the consumer 133 per cent, on an 

 average, over the price paid the producer. 



Very often have I heard this season that prunes of medium or 

 inferior grade and quality are retailing from 12^ to 18 cents, apricots 

 from 15 to 26 cents, and other fruits in like way. There are places where 

 our fruits are sold at legitimate profits, but I have never yet had the 

 pleasure of hearing from a consumer that he knew of such place. 



The producer, either individually or by combination, should fully 

 prepare his product for distribution among the retail trade, and avoid 

 as far as possible the speculative manipulation after it leaves his pos- 

 session. In an unfinished state the product is the material of specula- 

 tion, and has a price fixed by the conscience of the buyer and the 

 ignorance of the seller. Combinations of producers for manipulating 

 their own product is the best method, if our limited experience is suf- 

 ficient for a criterion. Combinations, however, must be understood, to 

 be governed by cooperative principles, in order that all share in the 

 benefits in the ratio of their products. The individual with one ton or 

 five tons of varied product is helpless. One hundred individuals with 

 one thousand or two thousand tons are a force that can be utilized for 

 their combined benefit and protection. 



It is believed that the old system of disposing of our product must 

 be materially changed; not entirely ignored or set aside, but shorn of its 

 gambling or speculative features by those who claim to be in our service. 

 Again, those who are paid by us for their service should serve us, and 

 not use their best efforts upon us for the benefit of others. In order to 

 bring about these changes we must place ourselves in a condition of self- 

 defense at least, and if perchance offensive action became necessary we 

 should be in part prepared for it. Unless this is done the fruit producer 

 will soon become a plodding slave of a ruined industry, which will fur- 

 nish luxury and wealth not to himself but those feeding upon the product 

 of his unpaid energies. I am aware that cooperative work is said to be 

 too closely conditioned to the affairs of Heaven to be successful on earth. 

 Those who shout this loudest are the Harpies who swoop down upon us 

 for profit, and are as likely to be our neighbor as the man of business. 

 Personally, I see no better method than cooperative work in neighbor- 

 hoods and communities. I do not believe there is any other method that 

 will avail anything. I am positive that all persons dealing in our 

 product in whatever way should be compelled to deal through our coop- 

 erative associations. Then by being sensible and reasonable ourselves 

 we might impart some measure of these high qualities to others. Those 

 who would be equally benefited with ourselves would be the purchasers 

 of our concentrated product, whether wholesalers, jobbers, or retail deal- 

 ers. There would be some assurance to them of a steady market, and 

 sufficient time for legitimate sales with legitimate profits, and but little 

 reason to fear speculative fluctuation. 



