American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-06-10
THE BUYING CLUBS.

Il is net generally known that there Is rapidly
developing in this country a new kind OF market
ing system for farm products. We refer to the
buying club In the city.
Such buying usually is of the things that go on
the table commonly called the necessaries OF
life. The purpose is to reduce the cost OF living
for prouuce rnau orfefwIse Would spdif market
field. or would require to be sold at unfairly low
and Improbable prices.
We may say that the people who are now the
handlers of farm products, commission men, brok-
ers, wholesalers and retailers, have forced this
new condition. They have allowed the machinery
OF distribution to become too cumbersome, too un-
reliable and too expensive, therefore the producers
and consumers were forced to take these steps
for their own protection and in self defense. For
instance, there are numerous examples where ap-
T'es, cherries, pears, peaches melons, tomatoes,
cabbage and other perishable crops could not find
: market through the regular established channels
but at the same time there we're dearths of the
same things on many markets, and consumers
were paying burdensome prices. So we say that
the middlemen have forced this condition them
selves. We believe we state the truth when we
say that the producers and also the consumers
would prefer to be relieved of the trouble of di-
rect marketing II they haG a system, even though
II was operated by a different class of people.
that would take the maximum amount of sun.
plies and deliver to the consumers at a reason
able charge for handling. The absence of such
a system and the constantly increasing expense
OF the system in vogue is the reason for the de-
veioping OF the new marketing system.
This paper has recognized the condition and ~
has done considerable to bring the consumer and
the producer together. So far its activities have
Deen confined largely to farmer producers and
farmer consumers because very little of the circu-
iation Is In the cities. The express companies al
so nave done much to connect producers and CON
sumers. Any producer can apply to the local en-
press agent, and get a list of the buying clubs In
tne city. or II the agent has not got them. he will
obtain them. Through the lacal express agent ali
arrangements can be made for marketing any
regular supply of fresh eggs, butter, milk. cream
chicken, ham, bacon, sausage, vegetables. fruits
etc. Express companies want more business. and
their agents are ordered to develop business. there
lore on request they will find the clubs down in
the city, II indeed, they have not listed them al.
ready. 81
AS an example Of what is being done. we refer
10 a club In Chicago. This club embraces about
100 families. 1t buys from producers in several
states to the amount of $1,000 to $1,000 monthly
one man gives all his time to buying and dis
In Nebraska there are several agri-
cultural communities where they have msrkstins
clubs, The sales Of fresh eggs. by these market.
ing clubs run on an average Of about "a. 600 a
month the year round, most of the shipments he
ing made to buying clubs in the city, some of them
as far as New York City-Up-to-Date Farm
ng.