Evening star., 1919-08-25
FARMERS MARKET
PLAN IS CHANGED
Mr.. Roberts Proposes to Ar
range for Both Retail and j,
Wholesale Trade.
WOULD AVOID CONFUSION

The farmers produce market, 18th
and B streets, is to be operated on a
new basis. as a result of the revival
there Saturday of basket shopping.
1t is now practically a wholesale
market George NJ. Roberts. super
intendent of weights, measures and
markets of the District government,
proposes to make it mart for retail
trade as we'll.
His plan is to prepare a schedule of
quantities at which farmers must sell
if requested to do so by consumers.
If the lowest quantity for potatoes.
for example. is a peck, any consumer
that amount may do So.
Mr.. Roberts expects to get his
recommendation before the Commits
sioners today. 1t is expected to re-
ceive favorable action Immediately.
Farmers who refuse to abide by the
schedule will not be permitted to do
business at the market, 1t is stated
Mr.. Robrets' plan grows out Of the
confusion caused at the market Satur-
day, when a large number OF dealers.
it is stated. refused to sell in sman
Quantities
Shoppers Make Suggestions.
There were about 500 basket shop
pers at the market, which indicated
to the weights and measures official
that If the farmers were required to
sell in retail qu.ntities basket shop-
ping could Be developed on a big scale
and made to cut down materially the
food bill of tho average home. y
As a. rule about $50 producers come
into the market on Saturdays. They
pay 20 cents for the privilege Of a
stand. They are not licensed, II is
stated. and the District can refuse to
give them the privilege of selling at
the market If they will not agree to
sell to consumers direct in stipulated
quantities.
It is not the intention Of Mr.. Roberts
however, to make the quantities so
small that it would work hardship
on the dealers or be Improbable to
the buyers. Some buyers Saturday, it
was reported, wanted to buy as small
a quantity as a half dozen ears Of
corn. It is likely the minimum meas
ure to be established for this CON-
modify will be a adozen ears.
Should Aid Farmers and Buyers.
The theory Mr.. Roberts is working
on is that the farmers market is q
District institution and that it should
be operated for the benefit Of con-
sumers here as well as farmers. At
the same time no restriction will be
placed on it's wholesale functions.
That any one may buy in any guam
tity, with the exception of certain
very small quantities to be enumerat-
ed, is the object of the plan being de-
vised.
Just as soon as the Commissioners
have acted in the matter a campaign
of publicity will be begun to instruct
not only the farmers as to the new
policy of the market. but to induce
householders to shop there.
Other Agencies Active.
With this food institution slated to
agencies showed activity today in
conjunction with the general effort
being made to lower food costs.
The post office announced it prob
ably would begin distributing order
blanks tomorrow in connection with
the sale of Army foods.
Clarence R. Wilson, former food
administrator. planned to get his fair
price committee together this after
noon to consider the issuance of a
fair price list. which will govern the
dealers composing the fair price as
sociation.
The Citizens Cooperative Buying
and Selling League expected to COM
plete by Wednesday distribution of
the five carloads of Army foods it
purchased and stored in the fish
market. Wednesday night this or
ganization will meet to elect officers
and prepare for enlarged activities.
Food Deliveries Likely Friday.
1t will take several days for the
Post Office Department to complete
distribution of the Army food order
blanks. Effort will be made to begin
the delivery Of the foods by Friday
or Saturday.
Mr.. Wilson's committee will decide
today whether 1t is to issue a fair
price list, adopt the marginal profits
plan or use both methods. Whatever
scheme is decided upon will be put
into operation before the end Of the
week, II possible.