The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-02-19
Cooperative
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By the time eggs that start as
strictly fresh, have gone on a journey
like this and arrive at their final des-
tination they are no longer strictly
fresh"-they are simply eggs"
The cooperative egg marketing as
sociation here in Ireland soon found
out that to successfully market their
members eggs they must find mar
ket not too distant, they must ship
by the most speedy and direct route,
and they must so care for the eggs
during the shipment as to prevent the
deterioration that comes within even
a few days under unfavorable condi-
tions. In short, there is a double reason
for direct marketing Of eggs; the first
reason is that any roundabout, indi-
rect marketing costs the consumer
money and is an element in fixing the
high cost of living; the second reason
is that this long drawn-out process
of marketing renders this particular
product unmarketable when the mar
ket is finally reached. Thus co-opera-
tive egg associations are doubly de-
sirable.
Quality in Eggs.
After the direct marketing route
was established cooperative egg as
sociations still found that eggs which
were not strictly fresh when deliv-
cred to the association could not be
sold as strictly fresh, no matter how
rapidly and directly they were rushed
to market. The managers were COM
PEELED to adopt very harsh measures
in testing eggs delivered to them.
The eggs must not only be fresh,
but they must look fresh. In some
cities, moreover, the people want
brown eggs; others will buy nothing
but pure white eggs In some mar
kets the small eggs will sell almost as
well as large eggs. In others none
but the large ones need apply In
some markets, too, in fact in most
markets, the eggs must not only be
fresh and look fresh, but they must
have a certificate of character at
tached. This may take the form of a
guaranty, or it may be simply the
brand, date or number Of the associa-
ton itself. But the purchaser soon
learns not to buy eggs that are not
vouched for. This CO.
operative association also takes note
of size in buying eggs and in selling.
They find that gradually the public
is approaching that dozen of big
fresh eggs are worth more than
dozen small eggs-that pound and
half of eggs is worth more than
pound and a quarter. By Offering
more money for big eggs, they are in
ducing the producers to breed for
size of eggs as well as for number
How the Irish Market Eggs.
We find here in Foynes good IL
of an egg marketing asso-
,iation. It is representative OF many
others like it. The association here
las built up a simple business system
hat has accomplished three desired |
Kings. First, the farmer delivers
good quantity of good eggs; second, !
lie gets good prices; third, the city
nan gets good eggs at reasonable
me, it has no red tape about it, but
S simple, direct, common sense-a
iystem that would work in any viii
age in America, provided only that
here were hens to lay the eggs.
Up to within the last decade rural
Ireland failed sadly of prosperity. In
many sections the farms were too
mall for extensive grain raising and
ven for dairying, except upon very
mall scale Even the smallest farms,
owever, had room upon them for
ems and hens did well in Ireland.
low 1t Was Organized and Operated.
The Irish Agricultural Organization
ociety is an association formed for
1e purpose of helping rural communi-
les to organized their business and
processes. Sir Horace
lunkett, an agricultural statesman
: there ever was one, is at the head
{ this society. This association dis
overed that in the neighborhood of
oynes there were many hens, but
nat the farmers were getting little
rofit from them because the eggs
ere not hurried to market speedily
nough, were not tested and were not
raded and, consequently, the farmer
,ceived very low price for his eggs.
Iany cities on the other hand were
lffering because they were getting
Dor eggs. So it was suggested that
cooperative egg buying association [
: formed at Foynes. A man who I'M
srstocd the marketing of eggs as
ell as the testing of eggs and some
ing of the raising of chickens and
)ultry was put in charge of the or s
IMITATION and a small store room was +
nted. The farmer was required to I
oliver eggs three times every week, t
e must gather every egg from the c
,st the day it was laid. His nests
ust be kept clean He must keep c
e eggs when gathered in a cool S
ace. He must bring in his eggs on Fl
certain day when it was arranged d
have enough eggs from other farm O
S brought in to make a fair sized n
ipment. S
The eggs after having been tested t
ere graded as to size and color and k