The sun., 1919-07-09
SOLITARY FARMER
OPENS NEW MARKET
Jersey City Turns Out to We'll
come Him and Gets Veg
: etables at Half Price.
FIVE ARE SCARED AWAY
Chamber of Commerce and
Women's Clubs Decide to
Continue Experiment.

Sundry persons In Jersey City propose
10 20 on the still hunt for divers indi-
viduais who succeeded in keeping all
but one lonely farmer out OF the much
heralded farmers market. which was
opened yesterday at Newark and Jersey
avenues. There Is reason to suspect that
the quarry are agents OF commission
men and others who are Interested In
discoura ging the development Of d.
rect outlet from the producer to the
consumer traffic in fresh vegetables and
other farm products. This suspicion IL
based on the testimony Of farmers who
say that they were advised by strangers
TO keep as far away from Jersey City
on market days as possible.
'If you do sell your stun in the Jer-
sey City market" strangers who called
on the farmers said, you may ipd 1t
difficult to dispose OF your produce
through the usual channels when the
farmers market is closed
At least Ave farmers, who had prom
ised to so to Jersey City with loads Of
garden truck. saw the light and stayed
away. The sixth man to give his guar
antee reported at the market for the
opening. He was John G. Millar, a truck
gardener Of North Arlington, N. J. Mr..
Millar said he had not been approached
by anybody and added that he was
mighty glad he had driven in. He did
good mornings business and was
pleased to be able to reduce to con-
suners the high cost OF eating.
Those who were disappointed be-
cause the farmers market did not come
up to expectations include the Jersey
City Chamber OF Commerce, several hun /.
dred members OF the Jersey City
Womans Club. the Young woman's
Christian Association and various other
women's organizations.
Determined TO Have the Market.
As these organizations interested In
cluded pretty much everybody who Is a
Jersey City who's whoser" II Is very
evident that the attempt to establish a
farmers market In that city Is not going
to be abandoned just because men in the
produce commission business think that
farmers should be kept away from city
consumers.
1t looked last night as IL Jersey City
was more determined than ever to have
a farmers market.
III we find that We cannot induce the
farmers to bring their produce to Jersey
City on the next market days, Thursday
and Saturday" said willard Stanton,
acting manager of the Jersey City Cham
Der of Commerce. I'VE will send our own
trucks into the country next week and
buy from the producers on the farm
Then we will sell the produce In the mar
ket ourselves. We believe the people Of
Jersey City are entitled to get fresh farm
products at prices for which the farmer Ia
willing to sell. and we are going ahead
with the experiment Of establishing n
direct line from the producers to the con-
sumner market"
Mr.. Stanton. however said he could
not discuss the possibility of the exist
ence Of any combination in restraint Of
trade that managed by moral suasion, or
business club. to scare farmers away
from the Jersey City farmers market.
However. you can rest assured" Mr..
Stanton said, that We will have a farm
ers' market II such a thing Is humanity
possible"
The idea OF farmers market APP
pealed strongly to Jersey City house
wives, and big crowd OF women, many
in automobiles. but more on foot. was on
hand early The fact that only one
farmer put In an appearance. in the face
OF assurances that there would be sew
eral, was disappointing.
Twice ms Much for the Money.
Farmer Mlllars supply OF produce was
limited TO string beans, rhuoaro. cab
bage. beets, white radlsh and carrots
and the demand far exceeded the supply.
However, the women were greatly ticlsled
because they were able TO buy two
quarts OF string BEANS picked the night
before for 10 cents at the very moment
local retail vegetable dealers were selling
string beans, long picked. at Is cents
quart. Farmer Millar's retail prices for
all his things were 100 per cent. less
than the local storekeepers. and he en-
joyed monopoly OF the market at that.
Mrs. John Wahi Queen, president OF
the Jersey City Womans Club. spent
two hours at the market. She said she
was much impressed with the anxiety
Of housewives TO buy fresh vegetables
cirect from the farm.
The plan for the farmersmarks. was
worked out by the Chamber OF Commerce
and the city officials. Acting Manager
Stanton sent Robert Wallace Industrial
secretary OF the chamber. into the coun-
try TO place the proposition before tho
farmers. and Mr.. Wallace interviewed
100 producers. OF this number six
agreed TO take stalls and come In with
their produce three days week On
Monday afternoon five of the six sorrow
fully admitted that in the circumst ances
1t would be the essence OF wisdom for
them TO give Jersey City a wide berth.
Efforts OF members OF the North
Hudson Women's League TO establish q
farmers market IN Fifth street, between
Bergenline avenue and Hudson Bouie-
ward, West New York, Nj. have been less
successful. There have been four market
days, with big crowds each day. but thus
far not single farmer has shown up
However. Farmer Gill OF Closter has
given solemn promise that he will
drive in with load tomorrow. and all
OF the housekeepers in the town will be
out with market baskets to greet him.