Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-15
Helping to Solve the Marketing
Problem

Problem
numerous requests are being re-
celVed from time to time asking
! what the Georgia State College of
Agrlculture has done or can do to
alo the farmers in the solution of
tnelr marketing problems. This in
Stltutlon, as our farmers probably
KNOW, is confined strictly to operat-
ing In the educational field Of mar
ketlng. No special appropriation has
peen made available by the state for
this work. Hence, what we have
undertaken to do has been carried
forward under serious handicaps. In
spite of this fact, most essential and
beneficial service has been rendered
the farmers. Those who are ac-
Qua1nted with the situation realize
Iully that marketing is primarily an
educational problem. In other words,
when our people have been taught
now to produce standard field and
food crops and prepare them accord
ing to the market demands, one OF
the most serious obstacles to diversl-
ncation will have been removed, and
market will have been made avail
able for the most of the produce
which the farmer has to offer for
sale. To this end, the Georgia State
College of Agriculture, with a very
limited fund at it's command has
worked assiduously along the line
assigned to it. Some of the benet1-
cial services rendered and some Of
the improvements witnessed during
the year are cited below. These facts
speak for themselves. 1t is mat
ter Of regret that more has not been
mil cIo al hut the
difficulties under which the institu-
ton has labored, the record made is
one of which there is no reason to be
ashamed. 1t is needless to say to
our friends and readers that the col
1ege will endeavor as best it may to
function along the lines set forth
below.
For a good part of the year we
had employed in the department OF
markets three men: a market leader,
who had general supervision of the
work; an extension agent in market
ing, who handled the marketing of
fruits and vegetables; and an extern
sion agent in livestock marketing.
These commodity marketing special
lists have developed their work along
lines which are Of greatest assist
ance to the farmers in the handling
of their market problems.
The formation of commodity mar
keting associations of farmers has
been encouraged, but in all this work
we have been cautious not to over
sell the idea of cooperative market
ing, and have impressed Upon the
farmers what we termed the correct
( fundamentals of cooperative mar
ketipg. It has been our purpose to
help steer cooperative associations
along safe lines and let the farmers
handle the selling Of their products
through these organizations. The
development has naturally been slow.
This is probably fortunate. A more
detailed account of this work is
given below as taken from the re-
ports of the commodity marketing
specialists.
In this line of work, stress has
been laid upon the Importance of
----c--,erIy grading fruits and Vege-
tables. Numerous demonstrations
have been given in harvesting, grad
ing, packing, and loading apples,
sweet potatoes, WatermelOns. white
potatoes, tomatoes, snap beans and
other products. Displays have, been
put up at a number of the city curb
markets and at fairs, illustrating ap-
proved methods of preparing and
offering products for sale.
Investigations were made to de-
termine the relative efficiency of GER
tain shipping containers and their
acceptability to the trade. This work
will be further developed. It is evil
dent that many southern products
are sold at a disadvantage on north
ern markets because they do not ar
rive in good condition, due to the use
Of improper containers and faulty
bracing in cars. Much work remains
to be done to determine factors af-
fecting fruits and vegetables in trans
it and to induce shippers to be guild
ed by information already available.
Considerable work has been done
in promoting the DrODer methods of