The Virginia enterprise., 1907-08-30
HELPING THE TOWN
HINTS As TO MAKING THE HOME
MARKET BETTER.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE

HANDLING Of fAkM PRODUCE
How Merchants and Farmers Can Co,
| Operate to Their Mutual Advan-
tage in a Business Way.
Many agricultural towns could be
vastly improved by affording farmers
better markets for the produce that
they have to dispose of. In the ra.
dius of every country village there
is sufficient butter and eggs and other
| products to be marketed, the hand
| ling of which would make a profitable
business.
The custom that has prevailed for
many years of storekeepers indiscrim-
inately handling produce does not ap-
pear to be to the best interests of
towns or it may be said, to the mer-
| chants or the farmers. In the first
place the average storekeeper has
no facilities for the proper handling
of perishable products. He, may not
| receive sufficient to enable him to dis
pose Of the product to the greatest
advantage. Therefore instead of MAX
ing any profit upon what he handles,
many times he is the loser and looks
for his compensation in the trade that
may be given him by the farmers who
bring in the produce.
1t is important to town whether
it is reputed to be a good produce
market or otherwise. Where the
farmer can receive cent or two
more for his butter and eggs he is
likely to turn his attention. In some
towns there are regular buyers Of
produce, but often these methods are
such as to be unsatisfactory and re-
suit in loss of trade to the place.
Merchants generally exchange goods
for whatever produce may be brought
to them. In many places they will
not pay cash, and it has been known
where cash has been paid that it i'm
mediately found it's way to some other
town where goods was purchased.
Each town that has any consider
able patronage from the farming CON-
munity surrounding it, should have
small cold storage plant. Que plan
that has been found practicable in
many towns is the organization of a
produce company in which merchants
of the town as we'll as the farmers
are stockholders. These concerns pro-
vide every facility for the proper
packing and storage of eggs and but
0fh ;cI
sometimes include a butter renovat-
ing plant. Where such companies are
operated the merchants refuse to
handle produce, referring all who have
such to sell to the produce company.
The company pays the highest mar
ket price for what it buys. Instead
of paying cash, due bills are issued
which are accepted the same as cash
at all the stores in town. Each week
the merchants who receive these due
bills in exchange for goods have them
cashed at the Office Of the produce
company.
By paying from cent to two cents
dozen more for eggs or per pound
for butter these produce companies
have been wonderful factors in bring
ing trade to the place. Not alone do
they benefit the town by bringing ad-
ditional patronage to the merchants,
but the business can be highly profit
able If managed rightly. It requires
but little capital to operate such an
establishment. 1t is we'll when organ
izatiOn is taken up to limit the
amount of stock that each shareholder
receives to one or two shares of a
par value of $50 or $10O. All effort
should be made to have as many mer-
chants as possible shareholders. Also
to secure as many shareholders among
the farmers as can be had. It should
be understood that instead of paying
cash, farmers pay for their shares
of stock in produce at prevailing mar
ket prices. With all the merchants
In the town interested in the suc-
cess OF the company, and the farmers
throughout the country also share.
holders and participants in profits that
may be made, it will be soon found
that the produce company will be
udHuIuS dill tne produce business that
originates in the community.
In many localities where this plan
has been put in operation the farmers
have discovered that they could re-
ceive better prices for their butter
and cream and eggs than under the
old system Being associated in a
way with the business interests of the
place they become more interested in
all affairs of the town and are more
inclined to work in harmony with the
merchants towards anything that has
the improvement of the home town
in view. One of the desirable things
about this plan is it's tendency to
lessen ths practice of residents of
rural communities trading with mail
order houses and department stores
in the large cities. Another admir-
able feature is the adding of an
additions: labor-saving industry to
the town and the keeping of the earn
ings of the people in circulation in
the community.