Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-03
POTATO DAY.


Idaho grew a large crop of extra fine
quality potatoes this past season. The
United States as a whole had a good
crop though after the frost loss it is
not as large as at first reported. There
is enough, however. to supply the de-
mand in all quarters till potatoes come
again. We are asked to save on nearly
all other staple foods. AS matter of
doing our t-patriotism-and. also as
a matter of good business sense, all
classes Of people, growers, grocers and
consumers should make strenuous
effort to encourage the greater use Of
potatoes this winter.
We are in receipt of the following
potato day proclamation from the
United States food administration:
UNCLE SAM SAYS-HAVE A
POTATO DAY EACH WEEK
One of the things needed to help us
win the war right now is special sell
ing effort behind the potato-the IA
miiar tubcr the homely Irish spud,
which has proved OF so much value
to the kaiser in holding on over
there" that, even with General Byng
after him, he recently found time TO
issue medal commemorative the
bringing of the potato from America
to Europe.
Last fall the grocery trade joined
hands with the food administration for
a concerted drive on potato sales. But
unfortunate complications came in the
crop. There was a field frost That
hurried damaged potatoes to market,
and also a delay in shipments, due to
railway congestion, which put prices
too high for free consumption.
Now. most of the baby troubles of
last years crops seem TO be over, ana
there are plenty of potatoes in most
markets, with satisfactory supplies
steadily coming in.
What we need now, Is long pun,
and a strong pull, and pull all to-
gether on spuds-grower. grocer ana
consumer all doing team work to get
good potatoes to market, and put them
on the consumers tables at reasonable
prices, and with minimum cost.
Look over your weekly schedule OF
deliveries, Mr.. Grocer Find out which
day is highest. Make a special price
on potatoes for delivery that day. Get
Potato Gay llNeu III Soui eo''i'''
as a weekly event.
The plan of a potato week has peen
tried, and it concentrated too much at
tention upon the potato at one tme.
The plan of potato month was also
tried, but 1t had drawbacks.
In this new plan of potato DAY
every week. Uncle Sam thinks that ne
has found the stimulus for steady sell
ing of potatoes One potato day each
week makes no abnormal demands
upon the farmer, or the railroads, ana
SO will not disturb prices, or cause
shortages. or gluts.
One potato day a week will enable
the retail grocer to fill mp hollow
space in his sales and delivery serv-
Ice. and keep his money and his EN-
| ployes busy. One potato day week
will enable the consumer to use thls
valuable food article as balance IN
diet. and reduce living costs and con-
serve wheat and meat for our fight
| ers and the allied nations.
Get up some potato posters, and an
nounce your potato day. Explain the
idea OF the weekly potato day In your
newspaper advertising. Make a spe-
| cial price on the tubers for that day
| and let the public know that you are
| selling potatoes on close margins as
| team worker with the food adminis-
tration. Advise your customers TO buy
| potatoes in larger quantities. yet not
too large-instead of few POUNDS
suppose they buy twenty five or fifty
| pounds, or about one weeks supply,
| according to size of family.
| With organized sales effort behind
! potatoes. handled at decent profits.
| through the entire grocery trade Of tho
country there viii De no need for con-
sumers storing the tubers themselves