{"value"=>"<p>Correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, policy statements, financial statements, statistical information, cables, telegrams, radiograms, news clippings, printed matter; maps and drawings.</p> <p> PEC's involvement in Palestine's orange industry began generally with its granting of long-term and intermediate agricultural loans through Central Bank. Some of the borrowers taking advantage of the availability of those new credits were small orange growers, who needed the funds to develop newly planted groves. With the establishment of these new groves came an increase in the demand for labor, and the need for an expanded market. These considerations led to PEC's inquiry into the status of the entire industry in Palestine, particularly its marketing and distribution components. The orange plantations represented the country's greatest success in primary production, flourishing in spite of many years of unsystematic cultivation.</p> <p> Working through Central Bank, PEC established standards for seasonal financing, and advocated the cooperative marketing of oranges. The corporation also made available the experience of other citrus-producing countries, particularly that of the United States. In cooperation with the Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA), and the Pardess Cooperative Society of Orange Growers, Ltd. (the oldest citrus cooperative in Palestine, organized in 1900), PEC brought American citrus experts to Palestine to investigate its concerns on the spot. Among the areas benefitting from such expertise were the selection of machinery, improvement of growing methods, watering and irrigation, and the need for a central packing plant.</p>"}