Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-12-06
Home Market Is
Most Profitable
Much of Food Consumed in
Cities Could Be Produced
in Nearby Sections.

prepared by the Unites States Department
Of AgriculfIre.)
Cutting of food COSTS to consumers
and increasing the returns to producers
by encouraging FARMERS to meet bet
ter The demands of local markets is
seen as a possibility by the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Much of the food consumed in cities
comes from distant producing sections.
Some of this food could be produced
in nearby farm sections, thus shorten
ing the route from producers to con-
sumers and effecting savings in mar
keting costs that might well be shared
by both producers and consumers, the
department says.
Local Demands Not Met
Studies of the extent to which farm
ers meet local food demands are now
being made at Altoona, Pa, by the
Department Of Agriculture, the Penn
Sylvania state bureau of markets. Penn
sylvania State college, and the Blair
County Farm bureau. The survey thus
far shows that the farmers in Blair
county, in which Altoona is located,
produced last year less than 10 per
cent of the eggs, less than II pers cent
of the potatoes, and less than p per
cent of the dressed poultry used IN
the Altoona consuming district.
Poultry and egg production, potato
growing and dairying are the most
profitable enterprises in the agricul-
tural section surrounding Altoona, the
survey shows. There is great oppor-
tunity for further increasing the poul-
try and potato enterprises, the depart
ment says. To indicate the advantage
which Blair county farmers have over
farmers in remote districts, it is shown
in connection with potatoes, for ex-
ample that the freight charges alone
on the potatoes required to meet the
deficit in Altoona between September,
1922, and May, 1928, ranged from 10 to
40 cents per bushel. At the conclusion
of the survey, a program of production
will be formulated by the Blair County
Farm bureau and the local and state
agricultural authorities will assist
farmers In putting the program into
effect.
Markets Neglected.
Many instances are known to govern
ment marketing authorities where pro-
ducers neglect nearby markets in an
effort to develop distant outlets. For
example. numerous campaigns have
been launched in the South to develop
northern outlets for sweet potatoes
while at times it has been virtually
impossible for southern consumers to
buy sweet potatoes produced on near
by farms. Other cases are known
where a city's supply of commodity
is brought from distant sections when
the same commodity is being grown II
the immediate territory and shipped
to cities hundred of miles away. The
savings on transportation alone woulc
go far toward reducing distribution
costs, the department says. Railroads
would also welcome the more etficlen1
use of cars resulting from better
development of home markets.
Surveys similar to that at Altoona
are to be made by the department al
other consuming centers. 1t is ex
pected that much general information
will be developed in these surveys thai
can be applied to all producing anC
consuming centers throughout thu
country. The federal government
cannot undertake to make such studies
for all sections, but it hopes to sug
gest a method Of making such studies
that may be applied by local authori
ties.