Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-14
HASKIN TELLS O THE
POTATO MARKET
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON, D. c., May IL. -
When the newspapers not long ago
carried the story of the North Da-
kota mar who received the astound-
ing sum of $3.50 for a carload of po-
tatoes, two classes of people were in
instant agreement that something
had to be done about the humble
spud that is so essential a food in
every home.
City folk who frequently paid far
more for a peck of MUIR
phies" than the northwestern grower
received for his carload, and farmers
who knew all about those city prices
but could not get the benefit of
them, both realized that there was
something radically wrong. Those
North Dakota potatoes sold for 1886,
but by the time the freight, inspec-
ton, commission and other
charges had been met there was
practically nothing left for the
grower. He had produced a neces-
sary article of food, there was a
good market for it and the consum-
er had paid a fir price, but he had
only a few cents to show for his seed
and his labor in growing, harvest
ing and transporting his product to
the railroad.
1t is true that in this case it was
discovered subsequently that the
railroad company had made an err
ror of some twenty-five dollars in
its charges, and that sum was re-
funded 10 the farmer, but that did
not materially remedy the injustice.
1t was apparent that if that sort of
thing were to continue, potato grow
ing, save for home consumption,
would cease. Something had to be
done.
Well, as always develops in ma
ters of that kind, something has
been done-was in process of being
done at the very time the North Da-
kota farmer was achieving fame.
Potato growers have formed a CO.
operative marketing association,
making a beginning in this direction
in the State of Maine, and by next
year it is expected that similar or
CARNATIONS will be doing business in
New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and
South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho and
Utah. This cooperative plan is
similar to the one that has been
tried out and found successful -
from the producers standpoint, at
least-with citrus fruits, prunes. to-
bacco, rice, cotton and some other
farm products within the last few
years.
Our Largest Food Crop
Potatoes cons ute the country's
largest food crop, in the number of
pounds consumed, and rank eighth
in point of total value. The nations
annual production aggregates about
$50, 000. 600 bushels, with a value
roughly estimated at a minimum Of
$500, 900, 900.
There are two outstanding fea-
lures in he development of the po-
tato industry, according to the ex-
perts. In the first place, the pro-
duction has increased more rapidly
that the acreage, the yield per acre
having been increased, and ut the
same time the per capita produce
ton has very markedly increased.
However, last year. with the largest
crop ever grown in the United States,
potato growers we're the victims of
the most serious price slump in
years. The increase in production
naturally had something to do with
the drop in value, but the farmers
also blame competitive juggling of
prices, discriminatory shipping
agreements, biased inspection re-
ports, and other manipulations
which they claim are decidedly I'M
fair.
Aaron Sapiro, organizer of sixty
five other associations, is the leader
in the movement resulting in the
Maine Potato Growers Cooperative
Association. II is said that sixty per
cent of the farmers who produce
Names great crop of tubers have APP
piled for membership and have
signed f~ive-year contracts to turn
over their entire crop to the assoc
citation.
Maine farmers say that they have
been completely at the mercy OF tile
spectators, whether commission
merchants, or buyers in the produc-
ing districts, Because of the short
growing eason they have only a
bare six weeks within which to get
their crop out of the ground. They
must market it Immediately as a
rule, in order to pay the country
bankers who financed their crops, or
the village st~orekeepers who hpve
extended them credit between crops.
Irrespective Of market conditions,