Seattle Stewards Accuse Produce Men of Fixing the Market
The Seattle Stewards' Association charges that local dealers are colluding with San Francisco shippers to control the price of California produce — and the federal district attorney promises prosecution if the evidence holds.
SEATTLE. — United States District Attorney Todd has promised the Seattle Stewards' Association that if it can produce evidence to substantiate its charges against the Seattle Produce Association, the latter will be prosecuted by the federal government. An attempt will be made to prove that local produce men are in cooperation with shippers of San Francisco in such manner as to control the sale in Seattle of California produce.
“An attempt will be made to prove that local produce men are in cooperation with shippers of San Francisco in such manner as to control the sale in Seattle of California produce.”
A century before antitrust cases against Big Tech and grocery conglomerates, Seattle's labor stewards were already accusing dealers of colluding with out-of-state shippers to set prices. The question of who controls the food supply chain — and who pays for it — remains a live civic argument.
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