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Show ASSOCIATION' OF FRUIT GROWERS C M. Clay, manager of tho Ogdcn Frultgrowors' association, in an interview in-terview on tho work of tho association during tho past year and the pros-pocts pros-pocts for 1912, says: "Responding to your kindly invitation invita-tion to uso your columns to show tho present fruit sltuntlo-,1 from the association asso-ciation viownolnt, I can atato that we have had ory satlofactor soason and the prospects ahead aro very roav for association frultgrowors. "Wo havo handled about 90 carloads of fruit during dur-ing the season Just closed and could easily have doubled that amount had we been willing to ship such carelessly careless-ly packed and poorly graded fruit as was sent out by some local dealers, which shipments are prlnclpalh ro- ?ponslble for "Utah's past reputation or inferior fruit. "Association pep.chnn this season havo averaged the grower 4'J 1-3 cents por twonty-pound crata; apples hotter than a dollar a box, and cherries c por pound. This la a gain of about 10 cents per case on peaches over la"?t season and about that much ' more than growers selling outside the association as-sociation received this soason, and with a gain of 3 cents per pound on chorricR as compared with last season's sea-son's average "Fruit packages, such as are used by growers for marketing fruit, havo been reduced in price by tho association associa-tion on an average of 1 1-2 cents each and spray materials about 20 per cent In price, saving for the grower on tho 1R or 20 carloads u?cd $1,500 to $1,000 As the 'association boost' on prices received for fruit his iiiuuumcu iu over $ii."uu, iiie niem-bors niem-bors havo realizod a benefit of $13,- i 000 to $15,000. Vi'hllo tho 'association umbrella' held over all growers has I meant manv thousands of dollars received re-ceived by non-members, as the outside out-side buyer has been obliged to 'cough ip' much better prices to secure any buslnops. and tho advertising received receiv-ed by Utah fruit on account of the strict association pack and Inspection has been of Inestimable value. "Wo havo purposely avoided taking profits onough from the grower to pay dividends this season as It whs decldod that, after several seasons uf hard luck, each grower was entitled to every cent his fruit would bring and to obtain his supplies at practically practi-cally coat, only taking enough commission com-mission in each case to pay actual running expenso of the association. However, had wo done our own marketing mar-keting this year onough rould have been saved from tho commissions paid Into the funds of another organization to have paid very handsomo dividends, and, if my advice Is taken, the same mistako will not occur another season sea-son , The Pioneer Fruit company, that last year mado a very poor showing In handling our fruit on commission, has this season redeeraod Itself by being by far the best buyer of Utah fruit, paying 10 to 20 cents per case more than any other peach buyer. The company has required tho very best association pack and has had experienced experi-enced inspectors on the ground to advise and assist in putting our fruit on tho market in tho best shape to suit the market domand Such buyers buy-ers should be encouraged, while tho cheap buyer, who will recede almost any kind oT fruit or pack. If the price Is low onough, should bo tln-cannod as soon as discovered, for the codling moth or San Joso scalo are harmless pests na compared with him. "Tho nnnual meotlng of stockholders stockhold-ers will bq hold In Ogden at 10 a m January 9th. and all growers, whethor association members or not, are urged to attend." |