Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-28

| was made to handle the potatoes to
the best advantage, and to make pay
ment to the grower in accordance with
the terms Of the contract
In commenting upon the slowness Of
the exchange in making returns the re-
port says:
I'm many cases returns were
promptly made In other cases
where there was delay in delivery or
settlement, no attempt was apparently
made to advise growers as to devel-
epments. Consequently it is found that
| in the ease of II of the carloads traced,
! it was at least two months after ship
ment before the grower received his
| first report on his car and in several
instances it was nearly four months"
The report closes with the following
summary:
Must Standardlze Production
1.-THE first step In successful market
ing of potatoes is entirely within the
| control of the grower, The one funda-
mental principle in successful MARKET
ing is the preparation Of the product
to meet the market demand. In the
case of potatoes, that means standard
lied production for one community, ma
turity of the crop, close grading and
sorting so that the product meets the
strictest federal requirements for No. ]
grade, and careful sacking and load
ing. Without this cooperation on the
part of the grower, no selling agency
in the world can get the best results.
1t is apparent in many cases that the
exchange fleld men passed potatoes,
market, that should have. been turned
down at loading station.
I'VE find no evidence of dishonesty
In returns and no lack of effort upon
the part of the exchange to realize the
best returns for the grower.
1.-THE Northwest Potato exchange
was not organized to handle satisfac-
torily the district where the complaints
investigated originated. 1t employed
as field superintendent men who were
not experienced in potato grading or
potato marketing The situation at
Whitehall presents choice of one Of
three conditions:
(a) Either the potatoes shipped
were not as good as the field inspect
ers reported them to be. or
(b) Market conditions did net
justify as high prices as those quoted
By the field representatives., or
(co ''If the potatoes were correctly
judged by the field inspectors, and cor
rect market information was given by
them. then the Northwest Potato ex-
change failed to sell in way that
brought full market value for the
potatoes.
Could Improve Service
1.-The business relationship Of the
Northwest Potato exchange with pe-
tato growers is based upon the conf
dence that the growers feel in the ex-
change That confidence must be main
tanned by adequate, prompt information
to the grower as to successive stages
in the disposition of his car. There is
room for much improvement in the
service which the exchange gives in
this regard.
THE contract between the North
west Potato exchange and the growers
is of the nature which one would ordin-
aril, expect to find between growers
and a commission firm over which they
exercise no control, since 1t grants to
the distributor the power to pool or not
to pool shipments as it sees fit without
consulting the grower.
THE commission is convinced that
wherever possible, sales should be made
ON Il basis {. o. b. to grower at ship
ping point, and that the growers should
strive for marketing condition that
brings this about. An alternative Is
to form pools as result of which
potatoes from given locality that are
Of equal grade, bring equal net returns
to the grower. Such pool, however,
should be under the control of the
growers"