Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-01-03
srANDAnD1z1NG FARM PRODUCE.

lAl In which are outlined some OF the
advances made in placing the ham
ding Of farm produce on a basis alike
more remunerative to the seller and
more satisfactory to the purchaser.
Reference is made to the time when
the purchaser of a barrel Of apples
expected to find q quantity OF infer
Tor fruit packed in the center Of the
barrel, and usually had his expecta-
tons realized. In contrast we are told
of the present conditions under which
he orders a box Of apples Of a given
variety, graded according to size, and
expects to find. and does find. varie-
ty, quality and size uniform through
out the box.
Unquestionably a great deal Of pro-
gress has been made. There is room
for still more. The grading OF fruit
has made better Roadway In the west
than in tho east. The aso is that
the work has been undertaken On a
cooperative basis. Voluntary asso-
Citations OF fruit growers havc been
formed in large districts. and these as
sociations have undertaken the su-
pervision, not only of fruit selling,
but Of fruit growing. Instructions
are given in the best method OF azri-
culture. and regulations with refer
ence to spraying and other treatment
to prevent insect pests arc very rig
idly observed. Grading is done under
a system which provides for a close
approach to perfection. The result
is that the purchaser can buy by la
bel. confident that the goods win be
there is less uniformity in the grading
system, and as a consequence the east
ern fruit grower, particularly the ap-
pie grower, has seen hts market ia
ken away from him because Of the
more entcrprising n more system
attic work Of the people Of the west
ern states. .-
The Standardization Of farm pro-
ducts has made better progress abroad
in most districts than it has in this
country. Denmark especially excels
in this respect. Her dairy products
are in great demand in England, and
that demand has been created very
largely by the Standardization meth
DDS which have been employed. As
%sociations have the handling Of butter,
cheese. eggs nd other products, han
ding most of the export trade Of the
country, and the regulations which
they have adopted are very rigidly
enforced. The English purchaser
who sees the brand of one Of these
associations on a package buys with
the utmost confidence that the goods
will be Of the highest quality, and
the reputation for Danish products
has been established which provides
a regular and permanent market at
the very highest prices. a.
In this section of the country we
raise no fruits for selling. We do pro-
duce quantities OF other products
which lend themselves to Standard
zation. In some sections local socie-
ties have undertaken the work of
handling potatoes in this manner The
results have always been excellent.
~ q PoAL vi Lie
original plan or not, the result has
always been not only to insure better
price to the grower for good products,
but by improving methods ofoculture
to increase yields, and diminish over
head expenses. There is a great field
hero for the handling of eggs on a
similar basis, and of butter, if the pro-
duction of dairy butter is to remain
one of the industries practiced on our
arms. OF this latter there is some
doubt, as the tendency among the
farmers is to market their cream
rather than to make butter.
There is no doubt, however, that the
adoption of better STANDARDIZATION
methods would be Of great service to
both producers and consumers.