2 MAIL TrTBUNE, Medfori, Or. A ThunJay, Aug. 13, 195
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STUDENT PACKER Student packer, Pa
tricia Barber, 18-year-old daughter of Mrs.
William Barber, Central Point, who is an
experienced packer, receives instruction
from Supervisor Mrs. Mabel Penland. Chet
Guches, chairman of the vocational pear
packing school committee, supervises the
school on behalf of the Fruit Growers
League and the Medford Pear Shippers
association. Mrs. Penland has been in charge
of instruction since 1946.
PRACTICE These students at the voca
tional pear packing school practice during
the 36-hour course. More than 85 students,
all women, were graduated from the in
dustry-schools sponsored classes this year.
Nearly all will find employment in the
local packing plants. Wooden pears are used
by student packers.
Fruit Harvest Finds 85 More
Packers in Medford Vicinitv
jl jp
The 19o9 Medford pear
packing season will find about
85 more qualified packers
ready to help out as a result
of one of the most unique
schools in the country.
' It is the Vocational Packing
school conducted each year to
train local residents in the
complicated art of efficient,
careful pear packing. The
course is sponsored by the
Jackson County Fruit Grow
ers League, Medford Pear
Shippers association and the
Oregon state department of
vocational education in co
operation with Medford public
schools.
"Fruit packing is a highly
skilled trade and requires cer
tain qualifications that not
Wagoneers Keep
Dundee Schedule
Amity - (LTD - The Oregon
Centennial wagoneers kept
Wednesday night's schedule at
the Dundee camp at a mini
mum, storing up their energy
for the triumphant arrival at
Independence Saturday.
The wagons pushed out at
6 aan. today for the 17-mile
trip and overmght encamp
ment here.
The wagons made 25 miles
Wednesday. Lunch and supper
were provided at the Dundee
school grounds camp by Dun
dee residents and the modern
pioneers retired early.
Wagon train member Ivan
Hoyer of Cottage Grove, news
director for the trek, reported
that many of the 59ers were
expressing regret that the trip
was soon to end but also were
looking forward to returning
to their homes for a much-
needed rest.
Twenty-eight persons of the
original 30 that started from
Independence, Mo., last April
will finish the journey. Mr.
and Mrs. Lowell Blair, Sheri
dan, dropped out in Wyoming,
Mrs. Blair became ill at Rock
Springs and returned to Sheri
dan and Blair left the train
at Kemmerer to join her.
Yaquina Planning
Funds Get Approval
Washington (UPD A con
ference committee on the pub
lic works appropriation bill
Wednesday approved SIOO.OOO
for pre-construction planning
funds for the Yaquina bay. and
harbor project in Oregon,
Rep. Walter Norblad (R-Ore.)
reported.
He said the committee also
approved $63,000 for continu
ation of the Monmouth-Dallas
reclamation project study.
everyone possesses, but those
that master it are able to earn
good wages.' This statement
in a special bulletin to the
students reveals the single
purpose of the school ... "to
give local people an oppor
tunity to learn how to pack
pears."
One of Few in Country V
The course has been oper
ated here for more than 20
years, and is one of the few
of its type in the nation. Over
the years it has helped train
a large number of local pack
ers to supplant those who, for
various reasons, have dropped
out of the labor market.
Chet Guches, chairman of
the packing school for the
Fruit Growers League, report
ed that this year's class of 85
is the smallest ' in several
years. The classes were held
at Southern Oregon Sales
packing house in Medford.
Supervisor of the school is
Mrs. Mabel Penland, Medford,
who has had charge of in
struction since 1946. She is
assisted by five veteran pack
ers who serve as instructors.
They are Mrs. Walter Jensen,
Mrs. Richard Singler, Mrs.
Walter Wilson, Mrs. George
Bourne, and Mrs. Wayne
Smith. The instructors assist
in checking each student on
various phases of the course
including sizing, wrapping,
neatness and correct count in
packing.
Fiv Years Work
Guches, a staff member of
Southern Oregon Sales, said
that records indicate a person
trained by the school will
work an average of five years
as a packer, but there are
many who return year after
year. Some who have dropped
out of the packing trade for
several years take a refresher
course and usually find a
placement.
Most of those registered in
the course this year are house
wives who seek only seasonal
worK, ana are welcome re
placements for those who are
not returning this season, the
chairman noted.
Students ' pay a nominal
registration fee of $3 and the
balance of the expense is
borne by the packing house
who sponsors the student. The
cost per student is about $12
for the 36 hour course of in
struction, Guches said
Specialized Trad
To the casual observer,
packing a box of pears would
seem to be a simple task, but
in practice it is a highly
specialized trade
The students learn first to
wrap the pear in such a way
that the elongated neck and
stem is protected by a fold of
paper. The bulk of the wrap is
then twisted and tucked under
in. one motion to form a
cushion for the pear. At the
f-Medford pear packing school
wooden pears of various sizes
are used to simulate" the actual
fruit. They have proved to be
a most satisfactory training
device since they are lathe
turned to conform closely to
an actual pear shape.
Following the course in
wrapping the student turns to
the actual packing operation.
This is where the student
learns to judge the weight of
the box for different sizes of
pears to prevent reject and
repacking for over or under
weight boxes.
Time, Experience
Only time, and experience
can be relied upon here, since
quick judgment and selection
of the appropriate size of pear
can make the boxes come out
within the tolerances allowed.
Deft hands and an exper
ienced eye for judging sizes
is the mark of an expert
packer. It is a mark that
doesn't come the first year.
It may take as long as three
years for a packer to achieve
top efficiency and speed.
A good pear packer turns
out from 100 to 110 boxes in
an eight hour day. Expert
packers can turn out from
125 to 150 boxes per day. A
rate of at least 100 boxes per
day is desired by most pack
ing plants, and those who
can pass the requirements of
the Medford Vocational Pear
Packing school can usually be
assured of a job their first
year. And if they become
really proficient, they can be
assured annual employment
during the packing season.
Juodd water. Smooth itorth with
spring-frtsh bagrancm pcntfratts
fabrics evenly. Makes washables
look and feel like new.
Get QUICK ELASTIC
U3UTD STARCH today
Del Monte PORK
SAPSAGE:
roii yQjy
Randy's Veal Cutlets
Ham Hocks & Bacon Squares
YOUR CHOICE -
For Real Flavor, Try This in
Your Fresh Green Beans lb.
29
Sharp Wisconsin Redskin
The "Just Right" Cheese
(
V
lb
USDA CHOICE-Klamath Fed
I(Q)Cra. BEEF
12 Beef Cut & Wrapped
57!
(TIP? 9ro
212 -312-lb. Average
FAMOUS
; Cut Up
Ready- to-Cook
Fresh
$1119
each
JUST RIGHT FOR PICNICS
YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM ANYWHERE
HATEBGa
Good! f'f
CELERY H EARTS 23
CUCUMBERS 5'..
SEEDLESS GRAPES 2 29
Salad Style
TOMATOES
lb. j)(S)C
Bskt. 7
Plus
SILVER
DOLLAR
STAMPS
O
1 Half Pint
HARPEL'S FRENCH DRESSING
1 Head LETTUCE
1 CUCUMBER
SPECIAL
ALL FOR
59
T
Hormcl's
SPAM
12 os. Tint
Only
39'
ALWAYS GOOD
DR. ROSS
Vita Bits
Vita Meal
5-)b Bag 69t
104b, Bag $A9
254b, Bag $2,69
leetheJ teet Pet
LIBBY'S 15 OZ. HOME MADS STYLE SWEET
i Super N
f Market
OPEN TILL I
MIDNIGHT
7 DAYS. A WEEK
K SILVER DOLLAR A
I VV v TRADING
V STAMPS 7 J
I 1202 NORTH RIVERSIDE
schilling's PICKLE CHIPS
5 fc.89(
Haley's 40 ox. Pork & Beans 2 f59c
Haley's 40 ox. Beef Stew. can 79c
Haley's 40 ox. Chili Con Carnel...can 65c
Pure Ground
PEPPER
4 oCani
You will use lots of this
during pickling season.
SILVER
DOLLAR
Stamps
STOKELY'S 29 Ox.
liPin9
29
Handy for Tour
Refrigerator
Fg Pong 29
... and Stokely's
Pi Li 3.$100
r p.
fOLGER.
MAN" hiytlfc
1-lb. Tin Drip or Regular
69