Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-21
prepared by the United States Depart |
ment of Agriculture.)

Farmers Public Markets
prepared by the United States Depart |
ment of Agricultural
In attacking the cost of living prob |
lem through local public markets, COM
munities might well give heed to def
mite underlying principles that are
known to apply to such marketing in
situations. Unless one is familiar with
the flow of farm produce from the
country into the market basket the
distinction between farmers retail
market and farmers wholesale mar
ket'' is not drawn, but both may be
called a farmers market" and pic
tured as one and the same in their
operation and function.
Some communities have tried to
change farmers wholesale markets
into retail markets, where the house
wife. could fill her market basket with
purchases made direct from farmers
always at a saving. These attempts
have usually resulted in failure and a
deal of friction between the public, the
farmers and officials because accord
ing to city marketing men of the
bureau of markets, United States
department of agriculture. the farmers
wholesale market is a very different
institution from a farmers retail mar
ket.
Wholesale Market.
A farmers wholesale market draws |
to it producers who specialize in truck |
crops and fruits, and who count on
hauling corn, potatoes, tomatoes, APP |
pies, Strawberries or other crops in |
large quantities. They desire quick |
sales in large lots after they reach |
the market so they can return to their |
farms and the work of production. |
Time to such growers is more valuable |
than the difference between what they |
get in wholesale quantities for their |
products and what they might realize |
by lingering long enough to retail |
their load in small lots at higher than |
wholesale prices.
Retail Market
Retail farmers markets, on the other |
hand, attract group of producers who |
raise a small amount of fruit or vege- |
tables as a side line, and whose other
crops do not demand as close atten-
ton as those of the truck raiser. Often |
farmer who raises only a few vege-
tables can send them to Il retail farm
ers' market in mixed lots. By IL member
of his family, who is GOie TO remain
away from the farm long enough to
dispose Of these products to house |
wives carrying market baskets.
Mixed Markets.
The retail farmers market depends
as much for its success upon location
as on any other factor. 1t must be con
venient for the housewife, while
wholesale farmers market need not
be as centrally located, because dealers
have wagons or trucks with which to
gather their supplies. Farmers whole
sale markets are an early morning in
stitution, starting business at day
break or even before, while q farmers
retail market starts later and runs for
longer time. This, of course, may
make possible a mixed retail and
wholesale farmers market; but in or
ganizing such a market it is likely that
it will appeal TO different groups of
farmers. and that it will be necessary
to regulate the hours so there will be
no conflict between wholesale and re-
tail business among the wagons or
sheds.
Too Much Expected.
Although retail farmers markets
have been urged in many communities
as means of reducing the cost of
living, too much is often expected of
them, according to men who have
studied the problem, and who point
out that all locally raised produce,
especially the more staple crops. such
as potatoes, cabbage. onions and APP
pies, represent but a small amount of
the. total of such products consumed
by city dwellers. the bulk of which
is shipped in from more distant sec
tions. Retail farmers markets do
serve as an outlet for certain amount
of local produce, varying with locali-
ties, that might otherwise be left on
the farm. or not produced by the
farmer who depended upon other
sources of income than fruits and veg
etables.
Any community contemplating the
establishment of a farmers retail mar
( ket should first make sure that there
are in that community enough farmers !
who are willing 20 haul their produce
10 market and dispose of it In small
quantities direct 20 the consumer
Cooperative Shipping Clubs.
Simplicity of organization and the
fact that no capital is required make
the cooperative shipping OF live stock
peculiarly adapted 10 communities in
which more complex forms of Co
operation would be impracticable. AZ
though not necessarily feasible in all
sections, especially those in which live
stock generally is marketed in carload
lots. or where there is insufficient
stock suitable for shipment to market.