King County Berry Growers Take Back the Market
After strawberries rotted on the docks and sold for pennies, farmers form a union to ship surplus fruit east and set their own terms.
The fruit growers of King county, especially those engaged in the culture of strawberries, met in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday and effected a permanent organization, to be known as the “Washington Produce and Fruit Growers’ Union.” The purpose of the organization is to protect the farmers in the disposition of this and future seasons’ crops. Officers were elected for the ensuing six months, and committees were appointed to effect permanent organization and to secure articles of incorporation. It was decided to make Seattle the headquarters, and the board of directors will select a site and appoint a general manager as soon as possible.
Considerable discussion was had on the course to pursue and the poor methods of the past few years, in which it was shown that many growers had hard work to exist. Berries would be sent into this market in such large quantities that it was utterly impossible for dealers to dispose of them, and the consequence was that enormous lots either rotted on their hands or were thrown into the harbor. Under the new system the fruit will be shipped to the union’s headquarters and commission men supplied as the demand requires, and all the surplus stock will be shipped to Eastern and other points in refrigerator cars, it having been shown that berries can be shipped in this manner with success.
J. T. Blackburn, of Vashon, was elected president upon convening, and W. T. Byer, of Bellevue, secretary. The following committee was appointed on permanent organization: W. E. Conway, of Bellevue; A. J. Kagerberg, of Houghton; Mr. Walls, of Vashon; Mr. Props, of Green Lake; William Kaine, of Bellevue.
A recess was taken to give the committee a chance to finish its work, and at 3 o’clock the session was reconvened and the committee reported a code of by-laws and rules, which were adopted section by section.
The following members were elected as a board of directors, to serve for six months, to have complete charge of the running of the union: W. J. Blackwell, of Houghton; W. E. Conway, of Bellevue; Mr. Byer, of Green Lake; Mr. Walls, of Vashon; J. T. Thompson, of Vashon; C. Mullenix, of Sidney; and J. B. Warren, of Bellevue.
The following committee of three was also appointed to draw up articles of incorporation: W. E. Conway, Mr. Byer and Mr. Walls.
Mr. Hey, of Ballard, in speaking of the loss to growers in the past, stated that the [berries] laying down at the [—] on Western avenue was [—]; stock was disposed of at [—] and 7 cents per crate, which left but very little for the grower—[—] cents for picking, [—] cents for [—] and 50 cents freight on steamer [—], besides the grower’s expenses in traveling to and from market.
W. E. Conway, of Bellevue, had a ten-acre [field] in berries last year, but disposed of [them poorly] owing to the unremunerative market. Then the [rain?] which came about the time of the berry season caused a great loss because it prevented them from shipping. Under the new system, all that is not [sold] here will be shipped East and to other points.
“Berries would be sent into this market in such large quantities that it was utterly impossible for dealers to dispose of them, and the consequence was that enormous lots either rotted on their hands or were thrown into the harbor.”
King County’s berry growers were learning a lesson that still applies: when producers are fragmented, buyers set the price and surplus rots. Their cooperative anticipates modern agricultural co-ops and farm-to-market efforts, though local berry farming has largely yielded to development.
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