Fruit Shippers Association – Part 2

Bayfield Fruit Shippers Association

Excerpt from: Bankers Had a Good Time Here

Bayfield County Press

Friday, June 19, 1914

“Our last stop will be at the Association building where early strawberries will be shown. The value of these late berries can best be determined by inquiry from your home commission merchants. The following is taken from the January Association reports. The Association organized in 1911.

“During the year 1912 when handled in carloads of all commodities, 101 box cars. During the year just ended we have handled about 190 cars, very nearly double the number from last year. We paid out for all purposes in cash during the year just ended $91,660.02 at a cost of $8286.02 for labor, expense and interest, which amounts to about 9% on the amount paid out, leaving about 1% on the gross business for profit.”

153 acres of strawberries on the Bayfield Peninsula produced 23,831 crates at $1.41 per crate, or a net profit to the grower of $221.92 per acre. 6 acres of Currants produced 992 crates at $1.25 per crate, or a net profit to the grower of $207.41 per acre. 8 acres of red raspberries produced 1582 crates at $1.80 per crate or a net profit to the grower of $356.03 per acre. 1.25 acres of black raspberries produced 328 crates at $1.84 per acre or a net profit to the grower of $345.50 per acre. 1/4 acre of gooseberries produced 83 crates at $1.60 per crate or enough profit to the grower of $553 per acre.

From Many Apples are now being Sold & Winners at Produce Exhibit

Bayfield County Press – Friday, September 17, 1914

The Superior Evening Telegram “Comments on Apple Industry Local District” read the headline on this date.

“The Bayfield Peninsula fruit Association, the co-operative marketing agency of the fruit growers of the Bayfield region, will this year dispose of 6000 bushels of apples, according to H. L. Van Cleave, former Superior photographer who is now sales agent for the Association. Mr. VanCleave was in Superior today indisposed of a considerable quantity of the Bayfield apples to local grocers”.

Of the apples marketed this year nearly 5000 bushels will be of the Wealthy variety. The Fruit Association has a membership representing 190 fruit groves. There are now 50,000 apple trees in the groves within the jurisdiction of the Association, and about 100,000 cherry trees. Only the apple trees seven and eight years old are now in bearing so that when all the trees begin bearing Bayfield will be one of the big fruit growing sections of the United States.

Besides the Wealthy apples, among the varieties grown at Bayfield are the Patton Greening, Oldenburg Duchess, Iowa Beauty and Transcendent Crab. The Iowa Beauty is a fine colored apple of excellent flavor which, according to Mr. VanCleave, will find much favor with fruit growers in Northern Wisconsin.

In a separate article titled “WINNERS AT PRODUCE EXHIBIT”, with a subtitle “List of the Exhibitors at the Local Fair Who Carried Away the Prizes” it is written, “many Bayfield people have not yet recovered from the surprise and wonder with when they first viewed the astonishing exhibit shown last week at the Bayfield First Annual Produce Fair. For an infant creation, the fair, thanks to those gentlemen who were so generous in preparing in the efforts to make event worthwhile, was certainly a tremendous success and the Press feels fortunate indeed to have been able to cover the various sections of the display as thoroughly as it did last week.

There is no need of our going further into the details this week, other than giving the list of premium winners as shown below.

Apples-Class 270

Single plate displays with five apples: John Engbloom-Alexander’s; John Hagberg-Ben Davis; Frank V. Holston-Dudley; O.G. Mills- Iowa Beauty; Frank V. Holston-Longfield; J. E. Carlson-Malinda; A.E. Hartman-Northwestern Greening; John Hagberg-Oldenburg Duchess; J.B. Bovee- Patten Greening; Frank V. Holston-Yellow Transparent; Peterson brothers-Wealthy; and John Hagberg for the Wolf River variety.

Peck of apples: Max Carver-Dudley; John Hagberg-Patton; August Turnquist-Wealthy; August Turnquist- Wolf River variety.

Class 271

Box of apples- Frank V. Holston- Dudley; John Hagberg- Wealthy

Best barrel of apples- Nels Hagman, 1^st, Oldenburg Duchess; John Hagberg, 2nd; John Hagberg-Wealthy

Class 272- Best plate Crab Apples

Peterson Brothers- Hyslop: R.A. Yeiter- Transcendent, plate of 10; John Hagberg- Virginia plate of 10; C. [Curtis] T. Andreas- Whitney plate of 10; William Bell- any plate of 10;

Special Premiums

Elmer Beebe- best display of plums, to each variety; Peter DeBraie- best display of pears, 5 each variety; A.E. Hartman, best display of grapes, 1 bunch each; C.R. Rowley- best display of peaches, 5 or more; John F. Hauser- best bushel of early potatoes; Tony Larson- best bushel late potatoes.

Class 261

Frank Kerns- best peck winter wheat; J.E. Carlson-best peck winter rye; Frank Murray-best peck beans (shelled); H.J. Wachsmuth-best peck navy beans

Grains and Grasses in Sheaf

F.L. McKean- best spring wheat; J.F. Hauser-best barley; J.F. Hauser-best oats; Frank Murray-best alfalfa; O.G. Mills-best red clover; O.G. Mills- best alsike clover; F.L. McKean-best Timothy; J.F. Hauser-best millet; J.F. Hauser-best buckwheat; William Barningham-best 10 ears yellow dent corn; C.G. Harris-best two ears flint; J.E. Carlson-best two ears popcorn; F. Kern-best two ears sweet corn; and H.J. Wachsmuth-best four stalks of corn (any variety).

Vegetables- Class 262

Ed Carver-six blood beats (turnips); John Hagberg-three long red mangels; John Hagberg -three yellow tankards; J.F. Hauser- 6 kohlrabi; J.F. Hauser- 6 parsnips; J.F. Hauser-six rutabaga; J.F. Hauser-six flat turnips; J.F. Hauser-six vegetable oysters; J.F. Hauser-six white winter radish; J.F. Hauser-six leeks; J.F. Hauser-three Hollander cabbage; J.F. Hauser-three pointed cabbage; Charles Reis-six black winter radish; John Hagberg-six long yellow carrots;

J.E. Carlson-six long white carrots; Harvey Nourse-six ox -heart carrots; A.M. Thompson-three cauliflower; Mrs. Lamerand-three drumhead cabbage; Harvey Nourse-peck red tomatoes; Harvey Nourse- peck red onions; Harvey Nourse-peck yellow onions; C.E. Patterson-three ripe musk melons; Martin Halvorson-three ripe watermelons; Ed Carver-largest squash (any variety); Peter Minard (sic for Menard) -largest pumpkin (any variety)

Potatoes- Class 264

O.G. Mills-Early Ohio; A.M. Thompson-Rural New Yorker # Two; J.F. Hauser- Early Rose;

Henry J. Wachsmuth- Burbank; C.W. Smith-Carmen # 2; J.F. Hauser-Sir Walter Raleigh; J.F. Hauser-California Russet; O.G. Mills- Triumph

This history brief was written by Robert J. Nelson. Generously sharing our local history through his research and writing.