The Strawberry War: A Call for Co-op Agriculture

If the strawberry crops of Kennewick and Richland are brought into competition with each other next year, it is apparent that the blame will have to be laid at the door of the Kennewick growers. The Richland men have agreed to stand together and have signed pledges to market their berries under one organization. They have taken the initiative in a program to eliminate competition and are inviting the growers of Kennewick to meet them half way. At a meeting of the growers in Richland Saturday, it developed that although there is some difference of opinion as to how best to organize, there is no difference of opinion as to the necessity of organization. Richland growers have always been strong supporters of the Yakima Valley association, but there have been a few who have always refused to enroll as members of that organization. In order that these few might stand with the rest, the association members, with the permission of the association officials, have withdrawn their berries and will enter the new organization. Whether or not the new union meets with success, the Richland growers are to be congratulated for the co-operative spirit they have displayed. If the new movement does fail, its failure will probably be due to the indifference of the Kennewick growers. Locally, the situation is just this: there are a number of berry growers who couldn’t be brought into the association with a block and tackle and any effort to organize under that head is doomed to failure. But we know of no reason why the berries cannot be brought under one control outside of the association. The question now before the Kennewick growers is not only of vital interest to them but to every business and professional man in the community. The future of the strawberry industry is at stake. If haphazard marketing with no check on price-cutting and no supervision over pack and grade is to be the program, the handwriting will be F-A-I-L-U-R-E in big letters.