The sun., 1919-03-31
DIR. PORTER WORKS /.
TO CUT FOOD COSTS
Ending Wasteful Methods Of
Distribution of Products
Is Big Problem.
COOPERATION Is ADVISED
Commissioner Denies Tales of
Small Part Of Sale Prices
Going TO Farmer.

pr. Eugene II. Porter. state Commits
sioner of Foods and Markets. does not
think much of talk concerning the de-
STABILITY 81 eliminating the mhdderen
srd substituting the distribution OF food
stufrs direct from the producer TO tho
consum =. He SAYS in his annual re-
port to the State Legislature that this
proposed remedy for the high cost o.
eating is available only to a few farmers
rs comparatively small number can
truck their produce to city markets.
Or. Porter declares that what IL
needed is evolution and not revolution In
the methods OF distributing food. The
problem. he says. Is now 10 remedy the
weaknesses and defects of the system
and not how the system can be over
thrown and another enc substituted.
The Commissioner characteriges rs
an altogether too sweeping state
nent' tho assertions Of popular write;
and demagoeic speakers" that the
farmer receives only IS cents out OF
every dollar that consumer pays for
his products.
smashes an Old FalIaey.
1T may be trus in a few instances in
regard TO certain perishabls crops that
have to be disposed OF Immediately" he
says, but for butter the farmer receives
n cents on the dollar for livestock IS
cents and for wheat 30 cents. II Is no,
always the number of middlemen In
volved that determines the returns &c
the farmer or the price TO the con-
uumer"
DR.. Porter insists there is no industry
OF greater Importance TO the State oi
New York than the production and dts
| trbution OF milk. This State leads ir
the quantity OF milk produced, 80 that
any interference with producuo on. whethe,
due to economic or reguIative causes
affects the interests OF thousands Of
farmers. The teeming populations OF
! the big cities, especially New York city
are vitality concerned IN receiving at
| uninterrupted fow OF wholesome milk al
reasonable prices.
The division of foods and markets
according to the report is making a sur.
vey OF cities OF 10000 population ant
over TO determine the adequacy OF Tho
present market facilities and needs Of
! extension.
Suggestions by DR.. Porter.
Or. Porter says every step taken &c
help the farmer In marketing his rroduc,
ultimately will help the consumer
Direct steps to benefit the consumer
which the commissioner says hs has ir
mind. include farmers markets, direc,
purchase Of products by parcel post and
express and cooperative buying. The
! consumers cooperative movement has no.
made much advancement in the State
hut In connection with a number Of
| manufacturing and mercantile concern,
consumers buying clubs, he says. hav,
been operated with moro or less success
The report sets forth that cooperation
in some form or other is to be the chic
Characteristic OF commercial activity II
tho next few years. Plans for thi,
work are being made by his Bureau o.
Cooperative Associations with much sue
cess Large cooperative groups Of farm,
ers in various States, through collectiv,
action. have been able to hnd good mar
kets for their output and Or. Porter says
that the growers of New York must gel
together and pool their interests in orde,
to meet this competition.
During war times. the Commissioner
points out. the high price OF eggs brought
forth a food OF so-called egg substi,
tutes. Many OF these prepare tons. he
says, consist OF a mixture OF starch and
baking powder Ingredients colored vol
low" He has ruled that an article that
does not contain powdered egg at all OF
which contains 20 Sdered egge and other
ingredients Is misbranded " labelled
egg powder" without modification.
Favors Standard Containers.
The. Commissioner is seriously con
| sidering the standardization OF al
packages OF commodities He suggest!
that no commodity should be sold wher
packed In containers except in one-halt
pound. one pound and the muluples o.
pound Sizes.
Plans of the division OF foods and
markets for the current year call 70. 9
study OF marketing conditions In New
York city with a view TO the following:
!. To work with the city authorize,
and distributors to eliminate or lesser
present evils wherever possible.
2. To improve terminal facilities.
3. To extend the usefulness OF loca
markets.
4. To encourage the formation OF con
sumers' organizations and assist then
In purchasing the supplies they need.