The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-24
PLANS ARE OUTLINED FOR FOOD EXCHANGE Marketing Committee of
 Civic Chamber Meets GREAT OPPORTUNITY Supporters of Idea Point to What the Georgia Fruit Growers Exchange
 Has Done for Peach Grow
 CTS of That State
GREAT OPPORTUNITY

A food exchange" for Birmingham was projected yesterday by the marketing committee of the Alabama crop diversi- Gov. W. D. Jellxs. chairman. Col. Tom O. Smith, E. Wilkinson, Murray Brown, Y. s. Gage. c. H. Ungerman, c. M. Me Mahen and W. P Redd.
 This exchange was first suggested by MT Redd, general chairman of the crop campaign. and was given the name food exchange by Harry Jones. Yesterday the marketing committee met and out lined the plan and decided to present it at the big meeting fin Birmingham on Wednesday night. February 8. when the crop diversifcation campaign leaders will gather here at the Alabama products dinner"
 The plan Is for the establishment of an exchange with an able man in charge and to be paid an adequate salary. It is thought there will be no difficulty in getting a membership of 1000 farmers and merchants in ths and other states, each paying small fee for membership priv ileges. The membership fees would pay tue SttidrN Ol Ine Iflan III tndGEe WuOSe honesty and ability would be vouched for by the Chamber of Commerce and would also pay for office force. This mem- bership fee would be made up to the shipper fin getting top prices on one good shipment. A small commission on all produce sold would pay the expenses of handling the paper, inspecting shipments, collecting the money and sending out reliable information every day on mar and east.
 Under Direction of Committee
 The plan provides for the exchange be- ing under the direction of a strong Cham Der of Commerce committee The ex- change would furnish all it's members with information on the kinds of products that are wanted by the big buyers. the quality demanded to bring the best prices and the methods of packing. Every grower would send to the exchange in- formation as to the amount of any prod ucts that he wanted to sell at the best market prioes-grains, fruits. vegetables. hays, live stock and poultry.
 This plan for getting the growers top cash prices for their products would, it Is felt sure result in communities over the state organizing for shipments in carload lots. This would give the shippers the lowest freight rates and get for them the best prices offered for their products by buyers in every part of the United States. The exchange would be able to offer buy CTS large quantities of high quality prod uce, properly packed and shipped. This would bring the buyers to the exchange fa Ixt 1st, md for .l1ta2 ir, this state. Many local buyers of produce now have to give small prices to the farmers. because they, themselves, have no quick and sure market for large quan- titles of produce. The produce buyers in Birmingham would have the advantage in dealing with the exchange. because they would be buying in a stable market where they could get produce in the quantities wanted and packed to bring the best prices. As 1t is now, they often have to be satisfied with small and poorly packed shipments. '"The exchange" says MT. Redd. would not only do away with present losses to shippers, but to pro- duce men as we'll"
 Market Extension Funds
 The plan provides for having all the surplus earnings of the exchange put into a fund for market extension. Be- sides finding high class cash buyers for the growers and high quality produce for the buyers, such an exchange would have good deal of work to do in assisting local communities in organizing to grow what the markets demand and in the quantities most desired by the big buyers.
 Members of the committee say that this plan Is practical in every detail and will be a success from a start with the right man in charge of the exchange. As an example of success, they point to the Georgia Fruit Growers exchange, which has made so many thousands of dollars for the peach growers of Georgia. Last year this exchange handled "A per cent of all the peaches in the state and got top market prices for them from the northern buyers. The Birmingham Food exchange would do just what the Georgia Fruit Growers exchange is doing. only 1t would not confine itself to any class of prod ucts but would handle vegetables. fruits, grains hay and live stock. In short 1t would be a real food exchange. giving the buyers the kind and quality of prod ucts wanted and getting the best prices and cash for the growers.