Now ain' t that pitiful!
by Paul Rinta

6/7/99: When I read the letter from the west coast grower in chapter 12, I know that I should get on my knees every night and thank Ocean Spray for saving my farm. I had been a member of Ocean Spray for over twenty years when I bought another bog. It was in need a repair and renovation, and I did not pay all outdoors for it. Still, when we crunched the numbers, I could not buy the bog, begin renovation AND buy the Ocean Spray stock at once. At that time, on a new contract, you had to buy stock equal to so much per acre before you harvested your first crop. Jack Llewellyn came to my house and I went over the spread sheet with him. I thought he would be enlightened to the inevitable financial hardship of stocking up at the time of property transfer, (which is also inevitable). I asked him to consider deferring initial stock-up costs and I was told that Ocean Spray could not alter its policy for my needs and that "Ocean Spray is not for everybody." (Ocean Spray has since changed that stocking-up policy.)

I went ahead and bought that bog and it became independent. After 24 years of being a member, that year, Ocean Spray sent detectives to my farm to watch me pick my independent fruit. They said they wanted to make sure I didn't try to sneak it in to Ocean Spray. Why would I, I made $20. more per barrel on the outside that first year. I still had two contracts with Ocean Spray. The company was arrogant, refused to answer questions that I submitted in writing before our annual area meetings, or provide believable explanations for anything. Because I was now a "split contract" I was treated with paranoia and suspicion. I had been on our advisory board for 13 years and we were still arguing over the same stuff. And they are still arguing the same stuff today!

I resigned from the Advisory Board and my blood pressure immediately improved. My leased acreage came out of Ocean Spray and my financial condition immediately improved. My home bog, is still in Ocean Spray. Now I will tell you honestly, If Ocean Spray had accepted my offer of deferring the purchase of stock, I would be 100% in Ocean Spray. But if I had to depend solely on Ocean Spray to pay me so little over 16 to 19 months, I would be sitting before a judge, bankrupt myself. I may get there yet, but not today. Today, my independent acreage subsidizes my Ocean Spray membership! Now ain't that pitiful!

I've spent a fair amount of time being angry about being forced out of my own co-op. Today I am damn thankful.



Paul Rinta, Wareham, MA

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