The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-09-19
COT BETTER MARKETS
Continued Success Of the Farmers Produce
Exchange Of the Eastern Shore.

The Eastern Shore Oi Virginia Produce
Exchange. an organization oi farmers,
has again this year done remarkably
well for the truck growers. There was a
large crop of Irish potatoes IN both
Accomac and Northamptoncounties and
the prices were very low, many times a
barrel not bringing more than % cents
Everyone Interested was at "a loss what
To DO with their potatoes. The iarmers
had their fertilizer bills and rents To pay
and the produce wasno bringingenougl
to pay for digging.
The officers OF the exchange were every
minute using some means to find mar
ket for the potatoes. While the prices
finally received wereia iarirOm satisfactory
the result of thceXchange seiiOrts secured
n market ior all the potatoes on the Pc
ninsula, and practically all the farmers
came out even ON the crop. Without the
exchange it is generally thought that a
large part of the yield would have been
left in the ground to rot. The exchange
handled nearly SOC, 600 barrels, or ,OOO
more ears than in 1901
The exchange is an association q.
about 300 of the most enterprlsing
farmers of Accomac and Northampton
cuonties. Ii has the patrOnage.Ol about
). 800 growers. Its organization was
brought about by the ruinOus prices at
which the staple crops Of the Peninsula,
Irish and sweet potatoes, had sold Tor
several years prior To 1900.
The success OF the exchange has been re-
markabe It's principal object has been
to secure better grading Oi products and
to distribute the shipment in the markets
of the country sOas not to OOyerstOck any.
1t has broadened aud heightened the ter
ritory in which the Virginia sweet and
Irish patatoes are sold. Some years ago
all OF the potatoes Were sold IN the East
ern markets-in Maryland, Pennsylva-
MIA. New York and the New England
States, but the exchange persuaded sec
tions of Canada tOcOmmence To Use them.
until now the cities oil Toronto, Quebec
and Montreal use many carloads. Port
land. Maine. il also a large customer. The
States OF Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, West
Virginia and Kentucky then began TO
buy them. and soon the demand came
from the Northwest, where the people
shin their flour East and buy Oursweets.
Minneapolis, st. Paul, Duluth, Milwaukee
and Detroit are the centers. The cities
of Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, Des
Noises. Burlington and st. Louis use
thousands OF barrels. Denver and Salt
Lake City are big customers this year.
The South has commenced to Use some,
especially in the mining section around
Birmingham and Anniston, Ala.
The exchanges success in marketing
the Irish potato crop is a small achieve
ment in comparison with the steady and
good price it has gotten for sweets. 1t
handled during the month of August
10000 more barrels than in 1904.
This is the first year for many years
that sweet potatoes did not sell for less
than 81 a barrel. At no time did they
bring less than $50 and remained at
more than 81 most OF the month. More
potatoes also have been harvested mp to
this time than for many years past.
They are bringing 81 % to Sl.jO today,
and with the small quantity left there,
rive promise of remaining high for the
balance Of the season.
The central office Of the exchange Is at
Onley.