Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-03-24 | Page 10 | Reports Shortage of Conning Products

REPORTS SHORTAGE OP CUE PRODUCTS Ground Under Contract Is 800 Acres Below That of Last Year. Special to The Trihune. OGDEN, March 23. In an effort to solve the problem which confronts the canners of the state in a serious shortage short-age of the principal canning products during the coming season, members of the Utah L'anners association held a general meeting here today, bat failed to reach any decision other than to make known the fact that a shortage exists. The situation is somewhat unique in view of the fact that there has .been a material increase allowed tho growers on tomatoes, peas and beans, the three principal canning crops. According to prominent canners -who attended today 's meeting the shortage as compared with last season 's acreage is as follows on the various crops: Tomatoes, To-matoes, 500 acres; peas, 200 acres; and beans, J 00 acres. In addition to this the canners would be willing to coutract a material increase in-crease over last season :s acreage ou account of the favorable market conditions. con-ditions. Although it has been customary custom-ary to contract to the full capacity of the factories there never has been a season when the actual deliveries were sufficient lo keep tho factories in operation op-eration on full time. 8o far as the canners can determine the reluctance of the growers to contract con-tract for canning crops this year is due to the high price of hay and the increased in-creased price of 7 a ton that will be paid for beets. The excellent market on potatoes is also believed to have influenced in-fluenced the growers in that direction. The effect ot high prices offered for other crops is distinctly shown, according accord-ing to canners, when it is considered that the acreage under contract at the present time is" 800 acres below that of last year with an increase in price offered' of-fered' for the principal crops. The meeting of the canners. which was held in the Weber club at noon today, to-day, was attended by representatives of 'everv canning factory m the state. H. L.. Herrington, president, presided. According to the officers, the reports of additional sales of canning factories in this section of the state were not discussed dis-cussed in the meeting. The question of how to obtain additional acreage was the paramount subject considered. There are reports current that some of the individual in-dividual canners have gone 60 far as to offer $13 a ton for tomatoes, but such, if it has really been taken, is not sanctioned sanc-tioned .by the "association, which at first protested against the $3 increase. Officers of the Weber county farm bureau when informed of the meeting of the canners today volunteered to take up the question at the next meeting of the directors to see whether the growers grow-ers cannot be induced to increase, their acreage. The bureau directors realize, according to W. P. Thomas, county agent, that too many beets has an injurious in-jurious effect upon the land and it is the desire of the bureau to keep the canneries operating to their full capacity capac-ity if possible. . j