The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1907-09-07
HELPING THE TOWN
HINTS As TO MAKING THE HOME
MARKET BETTER.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE
How Merchants and Farmers Can Co.
Operate to Their Mutual Advan.
tAge In q 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
10 sufncient butter and eggs and other
products to be marketed. the hand
ling Of which would make q profitable
business.
The custom that has prevailed for
many years Of storekeepers indiscrim-
inately handling produce does not ap-
towns or 1t 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. lie may not
receive suficient 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 a town whether
It is reputed to be a good produce
market or otherwise. Where the
farmer can receive a 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 1t has been known
where cash has been paid that 1t i'm
town where goods was purchased.
Each town that has any consider
able patronage from the farming com.
munity surrounding 1t. should have
. small cold storage plant. One plan
that has been found practicable in
many towns 10 the organization OF a
produce company in which merchants
OF the town as well as the farmers
are stockholders. These concerns pro-
vide every facility for the proper
packing and storage Of eggs and but.
ter and other perishable produce. and
sometimes include 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 ~ 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 once 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 id.
ditioual patronage to the merchants.
but the business can be highly proflt.
able II managed rightly. II requires
but little capital to operate such an
establishment Il 10 well when organ.
ixati0n 10 taken up to limit the
amount Of stock that each shareholder
receives to one or two shares OF q
par value OF $50 or 500. An effort
should be made to have ~ many mer.
chants ~ possible shareholders. Also
to secure ~ many shareholders among
the farmers ~ can be had. II should
b understood that instead Of paying
cash. farmers pay for their shares
oe stock In produce At prevailing mar.
ket prices. With all the merchants
In the town interested In tho sue.