The Penn's Grove record., 1921-04-08
Inspection of Potatoes and Other
Products

Potatoes have been increasing in
Importance as a crop in New Jersey
since 1911, until this past season,
when the total yield was 100000
bushels greater than any potato crop
ever produced in the State. The total
production was estimated at 16,050,-
900 bushels. An interesting feature
to be noted in connection with this in
creased production of the potato in
New Jersey is that 85 per cent. of the
crop was grown for market as COM
pared with 70 per cent. of the crop in
1919 and rs per cent. OF the crop in
1918. This is an indication that the
growing of potatoes has gained con-
siderable Importance as a commercial
proposition.
With this increased yield and pro-
d~uction, problems of distribution have
arisen and during the past season
many large growers and many small
ones found that unless their products
were graded better than ever before
they found it hard, using the slang of
the trade, ito make their potatoes stay
sold. In view of this fact, the New
Jersey State Potato Association, thru
its committee on standards and in
spection, sanctioned a bill which was
before the Legislature of the State
at the time of it's meeting in January.
This bill has recently become a law.
In part the law gives to the Depart
ment of Agriculture power to promote
more economical methods of market
ing and distributing farm products by
the establishment and protection of
grades and by the determination of
facts i4 respect to storage and distri-
button of food supplies. The law
further provides for shipping point in
spection of potatoes and other farm
products. This feature of the law
should be a great aid in standardlzing
New Jersey farm products, as inspec-
tors who are familiar with the crops
from the State standpoint will, where
requested, issue a certificate showing
that the goods meet the specifications
of the grade requirements.
The law is lenient in respect hat
it's provisions are permissive and not
mandatory. Grades will be establish
ed on white potatoes this season deslg-
mated as follows: New Jersey U. s.
No. l., New Jersey U. S. No. 2. These
standards will be identical with the
United States standards for white
potatoes which have been used more
or less by New Jersey growers for
the past four years. The law desig-
mates that fruits and vegetables TN
Guiding potatoes) when graded and
packed according to the New Jersey
standards must come up to specltlca-
lions. If the product does not meet
the requirements it will not be allow
ed to be shipped until the proper grade
mark has been put on the package,
and, furthermore, the offender will be
subject to a fine. AS previously men
toned, however, the law provides for
an inspection service at the shipping
point when the products are branded
according to the established grades.
This means that a certificate will be
issued by the Department of Agricul-
ture stating that the goods have been
inspected and that they meet require
mentS.
A copy of the certificate will ac-
company the bill of lading- To cover
the overhead of this inspection service
a charge per car will be made for the
inspection. Fees thus collected by the
secretary of agriculture and by his
employees or agents in their official
capacity, shall be paid into the State
treasury, which fees shall be appro-
priated for use of the department in
carrying on this work when authorized
by any appropriations act.
The Department of Agriculture is
arranging to make inspections this
season at important potato shipping
centers throughout the State. The
number of inspections which can be
made will depend upon the probable
number of inspections which will be
requested by the growers and shippers
throughout the State before the ship
ping season opens. The provisions of
this law will help the large as well as
the small growers of potatoes n Will
give New Jersey a better name as a
potato growing State, because, no
matter how large a crop OF a product
is grown, unless 1t goes on the market
in good condition, it does not create a
GOOD name for the section that pro-
duces it.
The Bureau of Markets, State De
partment of Agriculture, at Trenton
IS ready to receive all such requests tol
inspection or to answer any questions
regarding the inspection service.