The Failed Promise of the Kennewick Strawberry Co-op

It is an old story—that one about the farmer who visited the circus for the first time and after standing in front of the giraffe’s cage for several minutes was heard to remark, 'Aw, there ain’t no such animal.' For some reason just at this time of year when talk about the necessity of the farmers getting together and sticking together in the matter of marketing their products is at full flow, we are reminded of this old story. Maybe there really is such an animal, but it is quite apparent that he has not yet been caged in Kennewick. For six seasons we have listened to the co-operative talks and we take it the Kennewick farmers have not yet 'stuck' for the talk seems to be the same as it was six years ago. If ever there was a favorable vehicle for successful co-operative marketing, it is the Kennewick strawberry. Because of their early ripening, our berries are practically without a competitor in the markets. And yet every year it is the old story over again. Somebody cut the price. Somebody shot the market to pieces and everybody paid the penalty. But the grower who loudly speaks out in meeting for co-operation and then proceeds to bury his culls in the bottom of the hallocks, either doesn’t know or refuses to know the first fundamental principle of co-operation. If co-operation is ever to be caged, the grower is the fellow who must do it.