The Raymer enterprise., 1911-02-02
SELLING OF FARM PRODUCTS
Cooperative Farmers Club. ORGANIZED
In Northern MInnesota-Reap
Many Benefits Therefrom.

Many Benefits Therefron,
Inc writer was requested to meet at
Duluth with the officers of several Co.
operative Farmers clubs In northern
Minnesota, who now ship their pro.
duce to the city named, where 1t Is
handled by a representative on the
commission row who Is In the employ
OF the several cooperative clubs. We
were invited to attend the meeting to
aid In selecting varieties best adapted
for the markets and their location,
says writer in the Northwestern Ag.
riculturist. We feel like compliment.
ing the members Of the various clubs
IN their method Of selling. also in Sc.
lecting varieties suitable for the trade
and In making arrangements early in
the year for purchasing seed stocks
which. on account Of crop failures at
home and abroad. are quite sure to be
scarce and dear in price later, when
the planting season arrives.
These cooperative clubs have dem.
onstrated to their satisfaction that It
Is great mistake to ship mixed lots
OF potatoes. cabbage, onions, or any
other kind of vegetables to any mar.
ket, and expect them to sell for the
highest price. In fact, they are SO
Impressed with the value Of uniform.
ity in their shipments. that all mem.
bers will use seed stocks Of the va
rieties selected by the officers Of the
clubs and will buy them from one
dependable seed firm, which will re-
suit In still greater uniformity, They
propose to ship in car loads and thus
save on both freight and commits.
sion.
They also propose to conflne these
crops to a limited number of va
rieties. This agreement on their part
Is also wise and will result In large.
ly Increased profits Growers who
specialize with potatoes. cabbage,
onions, celery. etc., usually make a
greater success tn securing big yields
and large financial returns, with less
labor and worry than the truckster
who Is not content with anything
short Of general assortment. This
has been demonstrated again and
again by growers who must ship their
produce to distant city markets.
The manager who sells their pro-
duce has been greatly handicapped
by the lack of uniformity IN packing
and packages. on the part Of his
patrons. He has instructed the va.
rious clubs as to the approved meth.
ods of packing. as well as preparing
produce for market. With these in.
structions he states that no ship.
ments will be accepted II they are not
prepared and packed as directed. This
Will eliminate from the list Of ship
pers all who will not conform to the
approved rules of the association.
The manager is also much interest
ed in having all shippers use a pack.
age or contalner that is approved by
the trade end the officers of the as.
ISOLATION. They are now selecting
packages which will be used by ali
members Of the various clubs and
will insure uniformity In these as
well as In their produce. They have
also decided to deposit with the man.
ager, a revolving fund. SO that each
shipper may have prompt settlements
for his produce. Merchants and con.
sumers In the cities have established
the bad habit or custom OF paying for
their purchases at the end Of each
month, which necessitates the revolv.
ing fund by which shippers are paid
on receipts Of their produce.
Cooperation on the part Of pro.
ducers In selling Is necessity as a
matter of protection. At the recent
meeting member OF a cooperative
club referred to an instance In which
a product sold to large commission
firm at 40 cents bushel. After pass
ing to the retail trade 1t cost the con-
sumer so cents peck, or five times
the price paid the producer. The high
cost Of living In the cities Is charged
to the producer, but the example men,
toned veritles the statement we have
made on several occasions. that 1t
should be charged to class OF dealers
who must receive large profits to main.
tain expensive buildings, pay high
rents. and support extravagant fami.
lies. in ease and luxury.