A344jncttt*r Pvmino, Saturday, January 30, 1993
Spring Bedding Market Surges At Produce Auctions
(Continued from Page A 1)
began in 1981 a:' Good’s Veget
able and Fruit Auction, and incor
porated shortly afterward. In 1986,
the auction moved to its present
location on Brethren Church Road.
Leola charges 8 percent commis
sion on produce sold. Horst noted
the amount of spring bedding and
nursery items have increased at the
auction tremendously over the
years.
Gebely, of Kutztown, said the
auction has 600 consignors and
500 sellers. They pay on a weekly
basis, with a minimum lot charge
of 75 cents with a commission of
8 'A percent on items sold.
Courtney, of Buffalo Valley,
said the auction began in 1987 with
35 farmers who purchased shares
of stock. Buffalo Valley posted
sales last year of $1.3 million, with
700 buyers and 600 consignors.
They handle nursery stock and
hold a Christmas tree auction each
year (last year, they sold an excess
of 5,000 trees). In 1991, they built
a large complex and added on to it
in 1992. They charge 10 percent
commission with no box charge.
Leinbach, of Leinbach’s Pro
duce, said the auction began in
1985 on a weekly basis, but
expanded rapidly the following
year. Their location is ideal,
according to the manager, because
they are located 30-40 minutes
from the fruit belt of Virginia and
are near Adams County, a huge
apple producing area in Pennsyl
vania. They offer 28 varieties of
peaches, 56 varieties of produce,
and hold items for sale from 600
growers and 1,000 buyers. Com
bined sales in 1992 were about $2
million. They charge 8 percent
commission and a service charge.
Establish rapport
Robinson asked the panel mem
bers a series of questions about the
—> - -*i rljjhi,
machine harvest (25-39 acres) at the tomato awards lunc
heon. At left is James F. Kohl, vice president, Furman
Foods.
The Hess brothers were honored with the tpp production
in class 2 machine harvest. From left, James Kohl, vice
president, Furman Foods and Joe and Bob Hess.
market and about the auction’s
response to various grower
inquiries.
During the height of the grow
ing season, many auctions experi
ence a glut in material and the
prices begin to tumble. According
to Leinbach, vegetable growers
should grade much harder during
those times. “The key is to estab
lish your reputation,” he said.
“Establish that long before the
glut.”
All the auction managers agreed
about the importance of establish
ing good rapport with buyer clien
tele during the season. Also impor
tant to growers:
• Make sure the lots are
arranged to they draw the attention
of each buyer, according to Lein
bach. Keep the lots together
that’s where the buyer’s attention
is.
• Know buyers and buyer
habits, according to Sloltzfus.
Spend time at the auction and work
at getting the buyers’ attention.
Also, speak up and be heard at the
auction, and recommend ways the
auction can improve service and
marketability of your items.
• Present your product in the
way you would if you were a buyer
making a sale, according to Gebe
ly. Make sure the buyer and auc
tioneer can see the product.
• “Copy the guys dial have the
success,’’ said Lcinbach. Keep the
top of the box open and make sure
the items are sitting nice, square,
and neat. Make sure the produce is
easy to sec, and at chest level.
• Avoid topdressing, or making
the produce look belter than it real
ly is, according to Courtney. The
buyer will determine that grower
has a reputation and “will make an
adjustment,” he said.
• Some auctions, to spur sales
and establish pricing quickly, will
start the season with produce
shipped in from other areas. But
A grower panel featured trickle Irrigation tor tomato production on Tuesday at the
Vegetable Conference In Hershey. At left, Donald Daum, ag and biological engineer
ing department, Penn State, moderator; Will Fairchild, a grower from Berwick; and
Earl Stei rer from Lock Haven.
Furman Farms won, for the first time in Its history, first place for 60+ acres machine
harvest. From left, James F. Kohl, vice president, Furman Foods; Sam Ravenolt, Leroy
Erb, Bob Schrauder, Mike Stroup, and George Conrad.
sible to produce grown in the area state. The following were honored;
during the regular season, accord- • Class 1 machine harvest (60 or
ing to Robinson. more acres): Furman Farms, Inc.,
• Honesty is the best policy. The Sam Rovenolt, manager. Located
buyers are intelligent, according to in Northumberland. Furman
Courtney. Farms won the award by harvest
• Don’t make contact with buy- ing 3.748 tons of usable fruit on
ers off-site. For one thing, in the 106.9 acres for a 35.1 tons per acre
long term, it won’t pay for the average yield.
grower. A buyer who goes to the • Class 2 machine harvest (40 to
farm is looking for a bargain, and 59 acres): Joe and Robot Hess,
may not provide the best price. Located in Mount Joy, the Hess
according to Stoltzfus. brothers won the award by harvest-
Overall, according to the mana- ing 1,541.8 tons of usable fruit on
gcrs. quality produce will set the 42 acres for a 36.7 tons per acre
stage for bttter pricing and will average yield,
ensure profitability fra growers. • Class 3 machine harvest
(25-39 acres): Donald Mowrer.
Mowrer, located in Marietta,
harvested 1,359.5 tons of usable
fruit on 36 acres for a 37.7 tons per
acre average yield.
• Class 4 machine harvest
(10-24 acres): Dale Frank and R.
Tomato awards
On Tuesday at the conference, a
tomato awards luncheon spon
sored by Furman Foods and other
companies honored growers with
the highest tomato yields in the
FFA Ertl
HATFIELD (Montgomery Co.)
The Pennsylvania FFA Found
ation is announcing the arrival
shipment of the second in a lim
ited edition series of Ertl Tractors.
The profits from the sale of the
tractors will go into the General
Endowment Pund of the Pennsyl
vania FFA Foundation, which
helps support statewide FFA
Foundation activities.
The second tractor in a series of
five Keystone Ertl Collector’s
tractors is a Super H Model. The
tractor has the FPA emblem on the
side of the*hood and also the num
ber 2 is iipprinted on the Keystone
emblem.
According to Dwight Woelkers,
Foundation trustee and Pennsyl
vania FFA Foundation chairman
of this project, the Super H has
been a popular model, and if sales
of the tractor at the Farm Show are
any indicator, the second year
model should be .sold out wkhin a
few months. “We have reserved a
limited amount of the first edition
in this series, a Farmall 350, for
those customers interested in pur
chasing the entire series,” he said.
The total number of tractors
ordered is the same as the year of
the tractor, for instance, 1993 for
this year. “We have had inquiries
from all over the United States
Tractors For Sale
wishing to buy this Pennsylvania
FFA Keystone series,” he said.
Cost of the tractors, including
shipping, is $35. Orders may
placed by calling (800) 523-5291,
Ext. >397 for VISA or Master Card.
Checks may be made out to the
sale. Dwight Woelkers, marketing director, Hatfield, right,
holds the second In a series. Paula Godshall, marketing
receptionist, holds the first in the tractor series.
Roher. Frank and Roher, Eli
zabethtown, harvested 698 tons of
usable fruit on 20 acres for a 34.9
tons per acre average yield.
• Class 1 hand harvest (IS or
more acres): Robert Macßeth.
Macbeth, Biglerville, harvested
433.4 tons of usable fruit on 16
acres fora 27 tons per acre average
yield.
• Class 2 hand harvest (6-14
acres): Dio Shetler. Shetler, Tur
botville. harvfested 289 tons of
usable fruit on 9.9 acres for a 29.2
tons per acre average yield.
• Class 3 hand harvest (2-5
acres): Reuben K. Esh. Esh,
Loganton, harvested 86.7 tons of
usable fruit on 2.3 acres for a 37.6
tons per acre average yield.
Editor’s note: More coverage
of the Vegetable Conference
next issue.
Pennsylvania FFA Foundation
and sent to Dwight Woelkers,
Marketing Director, Hatfield
Quality Meats, 2700 Funk Road,
P.O. Box 902, Hatfield, PA.
19440-0902.