Northwest Horticultural Council Records, 1953-1977

The collection consists of correspondence and records of the Northwest Horticultural Council, spanning the period 1953 through 1977, and relating to the opening of the Northwest fruit industry to new markets, materials on railroad rates, Interstate Commerce Commission rules and rulings, council bulletins, testimonies before Congress, fruit statistics, and personal records of Ernest Falk.

Series one, Correspondence, covers the years 1961 through 1977, and makes up about half the collection. It deals with a wide variety of matters concerning the Council: United States legislative aid for Northwest fruit marketing abroad, government regulations regarding pesticides, labor relations, labor organization and regulations, migrant labor and ideas for improving the fruit products of Washington and Oregon. Some of the letters concern the efforts of grower organizations to coordinate lobbying and promotional activities.

Series two, Exports, includes records of Northwest fruit industry executive contacts in foreign countries ranging from members of the European Common Market through the Middle East to the Far East and Latin America. These documents record the efforts of American industry representatives to open new markets for Northwest products such as cherries or apples, and negotiations with United States and foreign officials concerning trade and tariff regulations in various countries.

Series three, transportation, records Council negotiations and lobbying with the federal government on railroad rates and regulation and also a number of court cases concerning railroad rates. Interstate Commerce Commission rules and rulings fill several documents. Furthermore, Council meetings with other West Coast Shippers on sea transport and international shipping rates constitute a major element in these letters.

Series Four combines a variety of miscellaneous letters stretching from 1953 to 1977. They include extensive correspondence of the Northwest Horticultural Council Board of Trustees, Council Bulletins from 1970 to 1975, Council testimonies before Congress between 1953 and 1967, fruit statistics from 1967 to 1970, a survey of the European apple and pear production and marketing, and personal records of Ernest Falk.