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Show HI ANY COMMUNITIES FIND NEW METHOD OF SELLING SURPLUS PRODUCTS OF BENEFIT i ', I ' f i , ail f " 7 v : -A y ' - l " ' " ' ' ' , y i , "- v h ,6 u , c ' , I i ' ',, V. v"- , ; 5 5 Where the Producer Is His Own Middleman. (Prepared by the United States Department Depart-ment of Agriculture.) Community markets have helped to solve the problem of better utilizing locally grown food products in many parts of the country, particularly in the New England states. In almost every community there are usually a number of farmers or small gardeners who produce above (heir own needs a small surplus of food products, an amount often too small in the individual individ-ual case to command much, if any, consideration1 from the wholesale dealers deal-ers or even retail grocers. These small surpluses represent in the aggregate ag-gregate a very considerable addition to the community's food supply and, says the bureau of markets, department depart-ment of agriculture, if such supplies can be economically placed in the homes they are well worth utilizing, especially in this day of high living costs and need of conservation of both supplies and transportation. To conserve this source of food and to benefit both producers and consumers consum-ers a number of cities last year set aside portions of streets, public squares or vacant pieces of property on which the fanners and gardeners could offer their products for sale. At these community or public markets the consumer deals directly with the producer and gets fresh fruit and vegetables veg-etables often at a lower price than could be possible at retail stores. Community Market Successes. One such market in a Massachusetts town last year reports that 30 farmers and 1,800 customers were in attendance attend-ance in a single day, and the business done during the four months through which the market was conducted totaled about ?4."),000. Another open market in tho same state reports that within two and one-half hours farmers farm-ers sold ten tons of produce for $1,500, and this lot of foodstuffs was carried away by the purchasers. The community market idea does not appeal to all producers. The commercial com-mercial truck gardener or the farmer who grows and markets a considerable amount of produce usually prefers to sell in wholesale quantities. He considers con-siders that the difference between wholesale and retail prices is not sufficient suffi-cient to offset the value of an equal amount of time devoted to his regular farm work. The small producer, however, how-ever, whose time is not so fully occupied oc-cupied with his farming operations, often finds it possible to devote a part of certain days in disposing of his products at a community market, taking tak-ing the difference between wholesale riid retail prices for his service as salesman. Making Markets Pay. Community markets have not been successful in all instances, but where there are a reasonable number of producers pro-ducers who can be interested in attending at-tending a market which is conveniently convenient-ly located for the purchasing public, success in many cases has been marked. To be most successful the market should be supported by some public-spirited organization, such as the chamber of commerce or a woman's club, and the city government govern-ment should be interested in the move ment. Experience shows that there always develops a need for a market master who will have direct supervision supervi-sion over the conduct of the market and see that all rules are enforced Every market should have regulations as to allotment of selling space, uniform uni-form opening and closing hours, nc price-fixing or profiteering, fail weights and measures, no loud solicitation solici-tation of trade, and the proper di posal of refuse. Local conditions of supply and demand de-mand will determine whether the mar ket should be held daily or less frequently. fre-quently. In most places two or three days a week will be all that is required. re-quired. It is better to have a flourishing flourish-ing market for short hours on two days a week than an unthrifty one on three or more days. Simple knockdown knock-down counters or tables for the display dis-play of vegetables and other products may be provided, or sales may be made direct from the wagons. Each producer pro-ducer should be required to pay a nominal price for his stand or privilege privi-lege of selling, this money to go for the upkeep of the market. Prices at the community market to attract farmers must be higher than wholesale quotations, while if they are not lower than at retail stores the consumers gain nothing in patronizing patro-nizing them. Some markets have found it desirable to have a bulletin board in a conspicuous place upon which are given current wholesale and retail store prices to be used as a guide in establishing prices of products prod-ucts on the market. Growers are then either encouraged or compelled to sell about midway between the two. |