The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-02-12
CROP T,AN,
Object Of concern
Crop Large and Consumption Be-
low NormaHHigh Prices One
Reason OF Slow Movement
February 3, 1918


The potato marketing situation at
this moment appears to he serious ac.
rOrling to q statement just issued by
the United States Department of Agri
il estimated to have been 442 500 900
bushels, or the largest crop ever pro
duccd in Che United States. NOtwith,
standing this tact, prices from the time
of digging to the present have ruled
higher than in any previous year Of
which we have record with the cxGep
! ton OF last year when the crop was
abnOrmally short.
The department of agriculture has
been able to compute the movement Of
the present crop with more accuracy
thmn has ever been possible before
and from all the information available
II appears that not more than One-third
Of the marketable surplus of the gro
Of 1917 has been moved up to Decem
her 81. In other words, there remained
TO be moved upon January ], two car,
of the crop of 1917 for every ear mar
krtcd mp TO that time. The NOV ement
since January has not been notice
ably arcrlcrafed. The present reserve
stocks are 50 widely distributed that
the transportation problems presented
! i" not appear TO be acute. Generally
speaking, more potatoes could b.
moved II offered for shipment.
! The situation demands enlightened
! patriotic and vigorous action on tn
p"rt Of all concerned in the movement
of this crop. Unless large dealers
promptly move the stOrks on hand in
order to speed up distribution auh
bring tho large reserve still on thr
FARMS into the channels of trade, heaN ,
wastaRr of the crop appears certain
, t" result Iater-in the season. 1t is be
! hrN ed that dealers will in the end 6uh
1T wiser to move present holdings with
/ ont profit or even at some loss rather
than to risk destructive wRstRge later
IN the season. At the same time pres
emf retail prices must be somewhat re
iured If potato consumption is to be
stimulated rs It should he.
Prices at point of production have
Generaliy declined since digging began
and many dealers are reputed to hold
large stocks purchased Mt prices high
rr than those now preYa, ling. Thu
may account in some measure for the
presGut slow rate of movement out o!
some of the heaviest producing areas
and for the abnormally wide differ
ence between present wholesale price,
to the grower and retail prices to tn
| consumer.
Under existing AID prospective con
ditidns NO material quantity of pota
toes Gun be exported or converted into
non prrishahe products this season
The crop can not he carried over. Ii
must be consumed or wasted. Tho
food situation throughout the worl,
demands that it be consumed IF
frctively to relieve the existing strait
on the supply Of cereals. 1t il
the one great food resource of Tia,
world upon which there is now DANCE
of heavy loss and the department
IN Of the opinion that the situation
demands that farmers sell freely; tina,
the larger dealers move their stock
rapidly; and that the retailer rontcu
himself with the smallest possible mar
gin Of profit, realizing that he is now
hr most important factor in sprcdIul
up potato consumption.