Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-03-26

Because OF the methods of handling |
and marketing eggs in common use
among the general farmers who fur
nish the great bulk of the supply, it |
is not often that the producer can get
the full benefit of the high prices for
strictly fresh eggs during the fall and
winter months. 1t is customary In
many sections of the country for the
farmer to take to town at irregular
intervals a basket of eggs some of
which may be clean and some dirty,
some absolutely fresh and some dis
tinctly below the highest grade. He is
usually paid by number, not quality,
and thus gets no additional profit from
the eggs that are really first class.
The village merchant, moreover, who
takes these eggs is not usually In
position to make regular shipments
to large markets. The result of ell
this is that before the eggs reach the
ultimate consumer they have deterio-
rated to such an extent that they are
not OF quality to command the high
est prices.
This waste can be, to great extent
at least. remedied by a system of mar
keting eggs through creameries. 1t
is not necessary for the creamery to
be cooperative one. for even pri-
vately owned establishment will natu.
rally be DESTROYS Of adding to the
prosperity of the neighborhood and to
Oblige as far as possible its patrons.
For this reason 1t should content
itself with a moderate profit on the
eggs. This was the case with one pri-
vately owned creamery In the north
ern part Of Minnesota, which may be
taken as an excellent example Of the
possibilities of marketing eggs in this
way.
A short time ago about 1876 farmers
we're selling their eggs through this
agency. They we're scattered over a
wide territory, one man even driving
IA miles. Before the creamery con.
scented to market their eggs for them
each farmer was required to sign the
following agreement:
For the privilege of selling eggs to
the creamery company and getting a
market established for guaranteed
fresh eggs, /, the undersigned, hereby
pledge myself to comply in every way
with the following rules:
Il agree to deliver eggs at the
creamery that will not be to exceed
eight days old and to be picked in
(gathered) twice every day.
Eggs to be of uniform size (no un-
| aa,af.. ~, rrrars4za asraaN
Eggs to be clean and to be kept in
cool. dry cellar.
Brown eggs to be put in one car.
ton and white in another and 80
marked
Each egg to be stamped on the
side and carton to be stamped on the
top.
81 agree not to sell any eggs that
have marked with the creamery com
pany,s trademark to anyone else but
the creamery company, and to return
stamps and other supplies that have
been furnished, in case should decide
to discontinue to sell eggs to tbs
creamery company.
Several points in this agreement art
worthy of notice. IN the first place
eight days may not seem suficientl!
often in the majority Of places to de
liver the eggs, but the nights in Min
nesota, even in summer. are usual.
cool. and this. together with the gath
ering twice day and the storage Il
dry, cool cellars, was found sufflcien
to keep the eggs In good condition.
by no means follows, however. tina
this would be possible elsewhere.
The brown and white eggs were SCI
arated because 1t was found that thi
added to the attractiveness of tn
packages. and. secondly. because
encouraged the keeping of hens whic
lay white eggs. During the sprin
months the owner of the creamer
paid one cent more for white eggs tina
for brown on the ground that in tn
future he could obtain more for theE
in the market, and that he wished t
stimulate the keeping of one class c
chickens in order to insure a NOR
: uniform market.
The stamping of the eggs is impo
tant. The stamp contained the nam
of the creamery. the creamery bran
and serial number for each produce
Thus, in case of any carelessness {
: failure to maintain the proper qualit
1t was possible to trace the produt
back to the individual producer an
lay the blame where 1t belonged.
Each farmer was furnished with
Il supply of cartons each of which hel
one dozen eggs and were so shape
Y that they could be packed in a regulf
30-dozen egg case. and shipped frol
the creamery to market by expires
The labor and cost of handling Il
8 eggs at the creamery were thus r
duced to a minimum. They we're new,
4 eaHdled because the farmer was D
der obligations to bring in only goe
: eggs, and failure TO do SO was regar
J. ed AZ sufficient ground for the creal
, sry's refusing to handle the eggs
G the offender in Che future.
e In the particular case described. q
eggs were shipped to large groce
!. : store In Duluth Minn.. which was
\ ready taking butter from the creal