The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-10-27
STATE INSPECTION
BRINGS HIGHER PRICES

inspections u pUGAtoSo w 1hC DS-
partment of Markets. is building up
the reputation, of Wisconsin spuds
and causing them to bring a higher
price on the Chicago market than the
potatoes from neighboring states,
according to figures brought to the
attention of the Department of Mar
kets today.
It is said that, in prior years,
Idaho potatoes customarily sold for
soc and 60c more per hundred pounds
than Wisconsin tubers of the same
type whereas in the first eighteen
days of October, 1921, during which
time the Wisconsin inspection order
has been in force the Badger article
has brought the top prices.
A warehouseman in Barron Coun-
ty states that there is better de-
mand, and a higher price paid, for
Wisconsin potatoes among his GUS
toners and he attributes this fact to
the state potato inspection service.
Prices at which "a certain concern
in nearby state offered to deliver
potatoes in Madison suggest that
the Badger grower is getting about
SOC more per hundred pounds than
the spud producer in that state.
One shipper from Portage County
informs the Department. of Mar
~1kc hot Iv-as 10 fofo ir1cnoofinY1
certificate being on the potatoes, he
has shipped twelve carloads this fall
without having a %single lot rejected
by the department gave him redress
against the person from whom he had
bought.
One Madison company says that it
is through with so-called No. l po-
tatoes graded in nearby state and
will henceforth deal in only this grade
as officially certified By the inspectors
of the Wisconsin department of
Markets.
The Department. of Markets is led
to believe that a great deal of the
objection othe grading and inspec-
tion regulations comes from dealers
or growers who want to get rid of
potatoes which arc below the standard
grade, without informing the pur-
chaser Of the fact. The very pur-
pose of compulsory inspection is to
prevent such Misrepresentation or
concealment.
Several dealers who favor the
inspection say that unless there is
grading and inspection INSCRIPTIONS
competitors will accept potatoes of
inferior quality and size, in order to
get the business. This competition
which is practiced particularly by
travelling buyers coming from out
side the state, is considered detri-
ment to the legitimate, established
warehouseman who is trying to keep
up the standard of Wisconsin stock.
Certain large buyers from other
states whose business it is to sell
the potatoes of Minnesota, Michi-
gan, Idaho, ETC., in competition with
potatoes from Wisconsin, are said to
oppose the Wisconsin inspection
service, because this system, hurts
the sale of potatoes from other
states, which have no official inspec-
ton. So long as guarantee of
quality, contained in a state inspec-
ton certificate, goes along with Wis
consin potatoes, a greater demand
will be created for them, to the dis
advantage of shipments from other
states.
The feeling in some sections that
the fee of $3.50 per car is an added
burden upon the farmer has little
foundation, according to the Depart
ment. This. amount means only
about 1-3c per bushel and such a
slight factor can not be considered
by the dealer in setting the price
which he pays the producer. One
warehouseman at Waupaca says that
he considers the fee as part of his
expenses not that of the grower.
This particular dealer paid over
$1,000, voluntarily, in 1920, in order
to have the Department of Markets
inspect several hundred cars of his
potatoes. He has sold them on
falling market, under conditions
when the consignee would have tried
to reject many cars for alleged mis-
grading, but the state inspection GER
tificate furnished evidence to protect
the shipper and to show authorita-
lively that the potatoes were up to
the grade named in the contract.
Letters received by the Department
from railroad companies indicate
that the carriers appreciate the i'm
portance of the state inspection GER
tificate, in furnishing evidence OF
the grade of the potatoes shipped ant
of the condition Of the car, in cas-
of accident or delay in transit o.
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