The Washington times., 1918-08-03
BUREAU
ISSUES SGU|DEFOR
D. c. HOUSEWIVES

The United States Bureau of Mar
kets today issued the first of its daily
market tips for Washington house
wives. This guide for consumers in
purchasing fresh foods is published
In another column, and will appear
regularly in The Times.
A relatively limited number of vege-
tables and fruits are covered In the
Governments first market guide. It
Is explained that as the organization
for gathering market information and
preparing the guide is perfected dur
ing next week the list will be ex-
pznded to include practically all
fruits and vegetables Of Importance
in the local market Meats and nsh
will be added later.
The market guide is prepared by
the Bureau OF Markets on informa-
tion collected each morning by It's
representatives on the Haskell whole
sale farmers market at Tenth, Elev-
enth and B streets northwest. and in
the wholesale and commission dis
trict Fair retail prices to the con-
sumer are quoted through co-opera-
tion with the District of Columbia
food administration, and will b en-
forced by that organization
Todays Groupings.
The principal fruits and vegetables
included in today's guide are group
ed under three headings: Abundant"
normal" and scarce" This group
ing will be followed each day, the
makeup OF the groups changing
with changes in market conditions.
Purchases should be made preferably
from the abundant" group, the Bu-
reau of Market points out for three
reasons. The most abundant vege-
tables should be the cheapest, and
therefore q dollar spent for them
should go farther. One of the prin-
cipaI problems of the farmer is to
dispose OF his most abundant pro-
ducts without loss; II purchases are
largely concentrated on the items
of the abundant list supplies will be
cleaned up and the farmer on whom
future supplies deDepd will not be
discouraged from again producing
such crops in abundance. Finally,
turning consumption to the most
abundant products is the best insur-
ance against these products being
permitted to spoil in the fields or
in the markets and therefore tends
directly to conserve food.
After classifying the principal
fruits and vegetables according to
supply, the Bureau of Markets fur
nishes a discussion of prevailing
market conditions for the benefit
of the housewife, and completes the
guide by listing the products in ta-
BILE form to show in the first price
column what storekeepers, hucksters
and other retailers are paying for
each product today, and in the sec-
ond price column. what are fair
prices to the consumer today for each
product
The Price Range.
The price range. showing cost to
dealers in the first column, It is ex-
planned, covers variations in quality
of product and differences in volume
of purchases. 1t also takes into ac-
count prices on the farmers market,
as well as those charged by commits
sion houses and Wholesale dealers. In
general, the better the quality the
higher the price. and the larger the
amount purchased the lower the
price. Usually, products bought from
the farmers market direct can be had
for. somewhat less price than those
purchased from wholesalers and COM
mission men.
The range showing fair prices to
consumers. in the second column. COW
ers prices charged by cash and
carry" stores as we'll as those charged
by, credit and delivery stores The
leash and carry" shops, which in
'clude chain stores, most market
stalls, and independent stores which
do not furnish either delivery or
credit, should sell near the lowest
figure of the fair price range.
Some credit and delivery stores do
ing a large volume of business and
having relatively low expenses and
large buying power. should, in the
opinion OF specialists In the Bureau
of Markets. sell for little more than
the cash and carry" shops The