A New Frontier for Richland’s Harvest
Local entrepreneurs launch a commercial canning and drying facility to eliminate agricultural waste and boost valley profits.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A new industry will be started very shortly in Richland which will prove of untold benefit to the farmers of the district. In the old hardware building recently purchased by William Relton, two young men, prominent locally, have decided to install a complete fruit drying and canning plant to take care of the products of the orchards which have heretofore been a total loss. Jellies and jams will be manufactured, vinegar and all other side lines of the canning business, so everything grown in the fine vineyards and orchards of the valley may be utilized and bring a profit to the grower. Heretofore, the waste has been prodigal and a number of ranchers have taken the matter up from time to time with a view of establishing such a plant, but plans never materialized. However, in this case the venture is assured and there is no possible doubt as to its success. The entire output for the 1917 season has already been contracted for. Merchants declare that fruits from this district have a much better flavor than the fruits grown in California and other sections of the Northwest.
“Heretofore, the waste has been prodigal and a number of ranchers have taken the matter up from time to time with a view of establishing such a plant.”
This early attempt at value-added agricultural processing mirrors the region's century-long struggle to transition from raw commodity exporting to internal economic diversification. Richland’s history as a hub for innovation continues today, though the scale and nature of the 'canning' have shifted from fruit to science and technology.
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