The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-07-07
Suggestions for National Marketing
Program as Basis for United Action
Eleven Pan Considered Fundamental to Well Rounded PROGRAM
Agencie; Engaged in Improvement of Marketing Methods
Must Travel Toward Same Coal-Undue Emphasis Must
Not Be Placed On Amy Single Factor


anu uO uOt uiccI Iuc ueeuS OF the DAY.
Producers and consumers alike con-
slider present methods expensive, in
efficient, and wasteful. They apparent.
ly are ready and willing to try any ex-
pertinent which gives hope of relief.
No one with experience and judg-
ment feels competent to outline a def
mite program which will receive uni
versal support and which he will guar
antee to bring early and decisive re-
suits. Marketing processes are the re-
suit of slow growth and development
through many years, and marketing
problems are complicated and intri-
cate Processes can not be revolution
lied over night and real problems can
not be solved promptly and complete
ly. But it is possible to delineate Ger
tain fundamental lines of work which
developed to their fullest extent, will
form a safe framework of a national
marketing program. Eleven such lines
here considered, constitute the essen
tial structure.
National Standards Essential
/. National standards for farm pro
ducts-The establishment of national
standards for farm products is funda-
mental to improvement in marketing.
Without established uniform stand
ards there is no recognized basis for
buying and selling; no common lang
uage understood by contracting part
les; no standard Of quality upon which
values may be fixed. Without national
standards market quotations and price
information are unreliable. Under ma
tional standards the term prime beef
steers in Kansas City, and No. ]
Northern Spring wheat will mean the
same to the buyer in New York that it
does to the seller in Duluth.
2. Government inspection of farm
products.-To be effective national
standards must be enforced. Impartial
inspection of farm products in the
markets of the country according to
recognized national standards is nee
essary for the protection of both the
buyer and seller. 1t has been proved by
the food products inspection and by
the inspection under the U. S. Grain
standards Act now under operation,
that impartial inspection in the long
run is welcomed by both buyer and
seller. The establishment and enforce
ment of national standards will reduce
materially the hazards of marketing
and therefore reduce the cost of dis
tributing farm products.
For example, without national stand
ards and a uniform application thereof
in all markets, dealer in New YorG
buying corn out OF Chicago on stand
ards in vogue at that place, differing
from those in vogue at New YORK, and
applied by inspectors who might be,
and, in the old days often were, under
local influences, could never be sure
what would be delivered to him in full
fillment of his contract-"No. 2 yellow
corn, Chicago weights and grades
final-and consequently bought on
much wider margins than is the case
where the standards are national and
inspection under Government jurisdic-
ton.
g. Development of complete and
authentic market reporting service
Prompt, accurate, and disinterested
market information is vital to the sue
cessful conduct of any business and
is no less vital to the agricultural than
to the mercantile world. Producers
must have market information as COM
plete and reliable as that possessed
by buyers and they must apply this IN
formation in such way as to prevent
glutted markets and develop new ana
undersupplied markets. producers
need full information on markets in
order to produce the maximum acre
age with some assurance OF being able
to dispose of it profitably. For IN
stance, the growth Of the cantaloupe
In dustry in the Imperial Valley has
been remarkable, the increase being
over 500 per cent in the past 10 years.
In 1910 the Imperial Valley shipped
something over 1000 carloads; In l9Zo
IL shipped more than 5000. At the out
act the expansion of markets did not
keen pace with the expansion OF acre
age Faced squarely with the question
of creating a demand for their prou"ct'
growers, distributors, and the feoerai
Bureau of Markets energeticaliv Ht''
proye the distribution or THIS hleniH
perishable crop, os that instead Oh tne
16O markets used as carlot outlets IN
1915. over $50 cities scattered literally
from the Pacific to the Atlantic ara
from Mexico to Canada, received al
rect carlot shipments in 1920 The
Federal Bureau of Markets each sea
son since 1915 has given the Imperial
Valley a nationwide market, reporting
service to aid in giving the cantaloupes
the widest and wisest possible distripu
ton.
World Marketing News Vital
World supply and demand as I'M
portant factors in domestic markets
are now appreciated by the public iol
the first time. Efforts to stem the
tide of falling prices brought proauc
ers face to face with the world situa
ton. The United States is the oni!
country today that gives its competl
tors in foreign lands authentic inIor
nation on production and prices. I'M
NJ n