The Glasgow courier., 1916-04-28
CITY AND RURAL MARKETS.
Advantages Of Co. operation In Market
ing Farm Products.

The advantages of cooperation in the
marketing Of farm products are en-
phasized in the annual report Of the
office Of markets and rural organiza-
tiOn Of the department of agriculture.
which has just been published. "The
conclusion seems warranted" says the
report. that in communities where co.
operation is practically applied to the
farmers business the results obtained
are far more satisfactory than those
secured by individual methods" 1t is
estimated that farmers cooperative
marketing and purchasing organiza-
tiOns will transact this year total
business amounting to more than ST.
4OO,OOO,O0O Agricultural cooperation
In the United States is therefore far
more prevalent than is generally be-
lieved, but it is not yet upon suffi-
ciently strong business basis. For this
reason the Office of markets has studied
the various methods employed by these
associations and has worked to devise
means by which these methods can be
perfected. The studies also have in
cluded the prevailing methods of mar
ketins perishable products-grain, cot.
ton, cotton seed. live stock and animal
products.
Studies have also been made Of city
markets in order to secure in this way
information which may open up out
let's for farm products. In this cOnnec.
tion the report calls attention to the
experimental work in distributing time
ly market information concerning per-
ishable products. An effort has been
made to keep producers informed of
arrivals and conditions in the large
markets and, on the other hand, to
keep dealers Informed of shipments
from the important producing sections.
Strawberries. peaches, tomatoes and
cantaloupes were the crops covered In
this way during the past season. There
Is evidence, says the report, that as u
result Of this service distribution has
been improved. glutted markets have
been prevented to some extent, total
shipments from several districts have
been greater than they would have
been otherwise, and large bodies Of
growers have received accurate and
disinterested information concerning
prevailing conditions in competing pro-
ducing areas and in distant markets.
Several important newspapers have CO.
operated in this work by publishing
these reports.
| The work OF encouraging the proper
preparation of products for market has
been continued. The ultimate aim OF
this campaign of education is the ma.
tiOnal standardization of market grades
and also packages or containers.
Investigation into the problems Of
transportation and storage has been
continued with view to determining
the causes Of the great loss of food
stuffs between the producer and the
consumer. Experimental shipments
by parcel post and express were made
during the year with many kinds Of
fruits and berries. lettuce, milk, butter,
eggs. sirup and vegetables. In nearly
every case 1t was found that the sue
cess Of the shipment depended upon
the judgment used In selecting the
quality Of the product and the type Of
cOntainer.
Another important division of the
work Of the Office for the past year is
its rural organization Investigations
and in particular its study Of the prob
lens Of rural credit and insurance.