Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-25
POTATO PRICES
ARE DISCUSSED
Monmouth and MiddleSex
Farmers Act on Low Prices
at Freehold

FREEHOLD, Aug. 25:-Farmers
of Monmouth county are in despair
and on the verge of bankruptcy to-
day, owing to the abnormally low
sale price of Giant potatoes, which
are being quoted from 80 cents to 81
a barrel. This price range is far be-
low the costs of production of this
staple food and consequently the
county farmers are facing severe
losses and in many cases bankruptcy
because of that fact.
Desperate over their financial di-
lemma 400 potato growers of Mon
mouth, Middlesex and Mercer coun-
ties met at the Freehold courthouse
this week, under the auspices of the
Monmouth County Board Of Agri-
| culture to consider all angles of the
situation. Conditions are ruinous,"
Bankruptcy is staring us In the
face" and The situation will drive
our sons from the farm" were COM
ments heard or nearly every hand.
Over 400 growers were In attend
ance.
The farmers ap~preciating the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation they have
faced since they began shipping
their 1922 potato crop, decided that
something should be done to relieve
1t. With this thought in mind,
dodgers were distributed on Monday
advertising a farmers meeting at
v hich time conditions would be dis
cussed as to a means of steadying
the market.
1t developed that the dealers also
appreciated the calamity that the
farmers are facing, and that last
week consideration of the situation
had been given by them. At some
meetings held by the dealers steps
were taken with the thought of help
ing the farmers get nearer the cost
of production. Reports given of a
dealers meeting held Monday even
ing showed that they were IN sympa-
thy with the farmers and from their
previous suggestions 1t was felt that
there was a possibility of their be-
ing able to give the farmer even
more concrete support.
H.. T.. Taylor, chairman OF the
meeting, reported that he believed
the dealers fully appreciated condi-
tions and that even though they
would not entirely sacrifice their
own profits. they were willing to go
the limit in helping the farmers
over the crisis. Since 1t developed
that the dealers at their meeting
Monday evening were to consider
the same question that the growers
were called together to discuss on
Tuesday evening, 1t showed that the
dealers were in pretty close touch
with the actual condition. The note
that seemed &c be uppern os. in the
Of the majority of farmers
was that after all a central selling
agency might be the solution of the
problem, providing 1t could be or
ganized at a time when entire
thought would not need to he given
to the movement of the crop. Some
expressed themselves to the effect
that time was too precious now to
think OF swapping horses in the
middle of the stream" Theron
McCampbelI of Holmdel felt that
the time was ripe for a method of
selling by a central agency 1t
seemed, however, that the farmers
in the past lad been given 3 num-
Der of opportunities more OPP ortune
than the present for the formation
of such an agency and hat they had
passed them by.
One note that seemed n common
one was the fact that the farmers
themselves could help greatly in sta
bilizing prices by uniform and sane
of the crop. leaving at
home potatoes that they know will
ruin the market and being careful
not to haul in ~sunburned and green
On Monday evening the dealers
suggested that a committee CT farm
ers meet with them at their next
meeting held to consider the move
ment of the crop. On motion OF G..
B. Conover, it was voted that a COM
mlttee be appointed by Chairman
to meet with the dealers and
express to them the feeling of the
farmers and keep them informed as
tn actual conditions. |