The Potatoes Looked Fine on Top

From the Yakima Republic.

There has been so much said lately in regard to the shipping of our products and the condition of markets, I cannot refrain from saying something relative to both since my return from the Sound, whither I went in the interest of the Moxee growers. I have been accosted by farmers from all parts of the country regarding my success. I do not want to take up too much space, so therefore will be as brief as possible.

Upon my arrival in Seattle I got down to business, and at the close of the second day I had placed twenty-seven tons of potatoes on a guarantee to be choice Burbanks, with the exception of two tons in the second car, which were to be the early variety. The first ten tons, or one car, was sold at $13 f.o.b. Seattle, they to pay the freight charges, balance to be taken up in groceries. This would have netted us in Yakima a balance at $1 per ton. As I said before, I had sold them on a guarantee to be first-class Burbanks. I felt perfectly safe in making such guarantee, having full confidence in my brother farmers. But alas! Confidence and guarantee vanished upon opening up my cars. I do not wish to condemn the Moxee farmers alone, as several cars I examined were in no better condition than ours, one from the lower part of the county shipped just as they came from the field, while others had made some pretense at sorting.

Now this mode of business does not alone affect the potato farmer. If it did it would be all right to make him suffer the loss, in order to teach him a lesson. But it affects those who endeavor to ship first-class products. I found the Yakima product on top in everything and the name 'Yakima' sells many things that were never nourished in Yakima soil. I also found retailers anxious to buy direct from the producer, but all say the same—they cannot get what they order. Samples will be choice, but when the produce comes it is in this shape: Large potatoes in top of sack, sometimes rocks in the center, some sunburnt; fruit small, gnarly ones in the bottom of the box, with a nice layer on top. Knowledge of choice hay in the center of the car to cover up mouldy black, musty outside-of-stack hay that is only fit for bedding. Now all this I saw while in Seattle, with the exception of the rocks in the potato sacks, and that came from a reliable source. I have been asked how we are going to help ourselves. I can see only one way, and it is this: In shipping potatoes do away with all sacks and ship in bulk. If you ship potatoes to Seattle, Tacoma or any Sound points, parties there can stack them cheaper than we can, besides saving the freight both ways. Potatoes will not bruise any worse; whoever buys can see what he is getting and no crooked work can be carried on. I also believe in organization and shipping direct through a representative of the same. Everything should be inspected and paid for when delivered. This would not only benefit the farmer, but the whole community. The farmer is expected to pay cash for his goods, but is compelled to ship and wait 30, 60, 90 and even 120 days and then be asked to take lots for their pay, as some of our farmers were the past fall, while others get no returns at all. This is not justice.

I have been told repeatedly that we could never get the farmers to pull together. It is just such statements that are keeping them apart. Our plan is to effect a thorough organization upon plans of grading, shipping and buying if necessary. Find out what our markets demand and endeavor to grade to meet its requirements. Thus we can protect ourselves. There will be no shipping and getting no returns, as I am informed nine cars of potatoes were shipped East and five West that have never been reported. The market and shipping must be looked after as well as the growing. When we wake up to this fact then we can have some independence that we haven't now.