The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-10-17

Farmers Public Markets
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture
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 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 n very different
institution from farmers retail mar
ket.
Wholesale Market.
A farmers wholesale market draws
to it producers who specialize in truck I
crops and fruits, and who count on I
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 50 they can return TO their
farms and the work of production.
Time 70 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 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
IL |
tables can send them TO retail farm
ers market in mixed lots, by u member
of his family, who is able 10 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
rs 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 1
gather their supplies. Farmers whole
sale markets are an early morning in ;
stitution, starting business at day {
break or even before, while a farmers {
retail market starts later and runs for {
4 longer time. This, of course, may I
make possible a mixed retail and {
y holesale farmers market; but in or {
5aniZing such a market it is likely that {
t will appeal to different groups of {
farmers, and that it viii be necessary |
% regulate the hours 50 there will be Z
10 conflict between wholesale and re- 4
-ail business among the wagons or {
sheds. {
Too Much Expected. /
Although retail farmers markets I
lave been urged in many communities c
Is a means of reducing the cost of t
living, too much is often expected of s
hem, according TO men who have 4
studied the problem, and who point 9
,ut that all locally raised produce. e
specially the more staple crops, such
is potatoes, cabbage, onions and ap-
lies, represent but small amount of
he total of such products consumed Z
" city jewellers, the bulk of which
s shipped in from more distant Sec
ions Retail farmers markets do
serve as an outlet for certain amount
If local produce. varying with locali-
les, that might otherwise be left on
he farm. or not produced by the :
armer who depended upon other
sources of income than fruits and veg
tables.
Any community contemplating the
of farmers retail mar
ret should first make sure that there
re in that community enough farmers
Who are willing TO haul their produce
D market and dispose of it in small I
Quantities direct TO the consumer
Cooperative shipping Clubs.
Simplicity of organization and the
act that no capital is required make
he cooperative shipping of live stock
'eculiarly adapted to communities in
which more complex forms of CO '
'peration would be impracticable. Al v
hough not necessarily feasible in all a
ections. especially those in which live il
took generally is marketed in carload i.
OTIS, or Whers there is insufficient d
took suitable Tor shipment to market, a
: where the central markets are not e