The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-05-27
South Carolina Home Producers
Association.

The home demonstration depart
ment has realized for sometime that
the crying need Of the country wo-
man is to dispose advantageously Of
what produce she has. This could
only be accomplished through or
ganization. A cooperative organi-
|zation handling the products Of
producers is in a better position to
establish and maintain outlets for
these products than are the individ-
uaI growers. Also it is a we'll known
fact that organizations brought
into being as a result of a well de-
fined need, are very much more
secure than those created by an
appeal to prejudices or misconcep-
tons. The year 1921 will eve be
remembered as a year OF unprece-
denied financial disaster and de-
preston especially among the
agricultural class. Not since the
Civil war has the farmer been SO
perpiexed with problems as to his
present need and his hopes for the
future, SO it was that conditions
were ripe for launching this new
development of home demonstra-
ton work. Plans for the sale Of
specialized products through an or
ganization to be known as the
South Carolina Home Producers
Association were made in April,
1921.
The purpose Of this association
is to convert the surplus yield Of
the farm into money by placing on
the market a standard product, and
by this means to encourage produce
ton and conservation. Many wo-
men became interested. apd as a
result, the association was launch
ed. Interest grew apace. A state
marketing agent was secured in
August, 1921, with headquarters
at Winthrop College.
Originally, contracts were gotten
out for a number Of products, but
owing to the difficulty Of stand
ardizing so many different things.
the contracts were rewritten in
October, 1921, and the number of
products cut down to ten. most Of
which are distinctive of our state.
They include blackberry jam, plum
Jelly, articheke relish, fig preserves.
grape juice, soup mixture, Dixie
Burgoo, Brunswick Stew, Pine Bark
fish stew and butter. These pro-
ducts r being prepared by spe-
cial recipes. put in attractive con-
taihers which are in most cases
sealed with a mechanical seal and
sold under a label Of special design.
the original OF which was made by
an artist in water colors. Emphasiz-
ing the fact chat these products
were made in South Carolina, a
beautiful palmetto tree is por-
trayed in the foreground.
!, The output Of the. South Carolina
Home Producers association in
1921 was about 5000 containers.
of these producst which passed
inspection have been sold.
We have contracts this year for
200,g0 containers. Containers are
being ordered comparatively. They
are being bought in the wooden e.
shipping cases.
Two communities. Fl. Motto in
Calhoun county and Clio in MARI
boro county. have ordered their
containers by the a load.
An exhibit of the marketable pro-
ducts which attracted wide atten-
ton was put on in Columbia at the
meeting of the State Federation OF
Women's Clubs on April 20-21. The
club women became much inter
ested in the marketable products
which are being put up by the farm
women Of our state. The presidents
Of twenty-three clubs pledged
to try and secure the n
dorsement of their clubs. Steps
have already been taken by seven
of these clubs, one OF the County
Federations going SO far as to or
der three cases of Dixie Burgoo in
order that the excellency Of this
product may be tested.
VV-.-x.1- n.-~lo.- H11l Drcnoeo