The Kennewick Courier Reporter

COOPERATIVES
GET BIG BOOST

Agricultural Commission
Believes Cooperative Marketing is Solution

The Agricultural commission appointed by President Coolidge to study the agricultural problems and recommend legislation to alleviate the sad condition that the farmers have found themselves in in the past few years has made its report. In effect the report says there is not much that can be done in the way of legislation; that ample laws are now on the statute books; that the problems must be met by the farmers themselves and that the solution can be found in cooperative marketing. The federal cooperative marketing board, as proposed in the report, would enable the cooperatives to develop "without governmental interference" but would adopt a fostering attitude towards them.

In a section of the report devoted to "principles applicable especially to perishables" the commission recommended that marketing associations in the fruit and vegetable industries be given the right to create clearing houses for the purpose of eliminating over supply without interference with the restraint of trade laws.

The suggestion of cooperative marketing as a means of securing for the producer a fair return for his product is not a new thing in the Kennewick district. Nineteen years ago such an organization was formed here under the name of "The Kennewick Fruit Growers association." The idea was then new and was ridiculed by the established system of marketing. It did not, for some time prove successful owing to inexperience and inability to cope with the organized opposition. For a number of years it was confidently predicted, however, that each would see its end. Farsighted growers believed in the possibilities and with grim determination continued their support. Four years later they associated themselves with similar organizations in the Yakima valley and became known as the Kennewick District Fruit Growers association. In 1918 these district organizations united into one compact organization as the Yakima Fruit Growers association, commonly know as the Big "Y", due to the reputation of its brand known thruout this country and in foreign lands. From this humble and discouraging beginning

this organization's business has grown into the millions and it is now recognized as one of the substantial financial institutions of the state. It has proven the effectiveness of cooperative marketing and is one of the factors that is pointing the way to farmers out of their difficulties.

Recent efforts along this line are evidenced by the 3-Rivers Growers, the Hay Growers and the Cantaloupe Growers and gives proof that Kennewick is well in the front ranks of progressive thought.