Milford chronicle., 1924-07-18
A Much Needed
Reform

(From New York Produce Review
To one who comes in daily con-
tact with the egg trade and who
observes the losses due to deterior-
alton of quality, and resulting from
various causes, there comes a reall-
zation of a tremendous waste, the
continuance of which indicates some
radical fault in our distribution sys-
TEN or practice At the present time,
merchantable eggs not branded cold
storage, coming into the New York
market are of such wide range OF
quality that their value may be as
low as 24c a dozen or as high as
62c. And sales of more or less mixed
qualities are at practically every
conceivable price between these ex-
tremes. Even leaving aside the COM
paratively small part of the supply
coming in the class of "hennery"
eggs, meaning those which come to
market directly from the producers,
and considering only the great bulk
of the supply coming from general
farmers through the usual agencies
for collection and packing, the range
of values is fully 25c a dozen on a
candled basis.
It seems strange that with COM
petitive forces freely operative
throughout the industry such
range of difference in value, due to
avoidable causes, can continue. No
doubt the deterioration occurs most
largely on the farms where facili-
ties for protection from unfavorable
IL 10
adays most egg packers are equip
ped with more or less adequate re-
frigerating facilities and between
them and the terminal markets a
good degree of protection is afford
ed. The general efficiency Of this
protection is shown by the fact that
when properly equipped egg pack
ers separate the irregular qualities
received by them, and put up un-
form pack of full, strong bodied
fresh eggs, such goods usually main
tain their quality with very little de-
terioration up to the point of final
consumption.
When such facilities are lacking
there is, of course more deteriOra-
tion in the course of distribution and
from holding. But it is safe to say
that more of the quality defects
found in egg receipts at terminal
markets occur before the product
comes into the hands of the packer
than afterward.
We believe the failure to prevent
the heavy losses due to deteriora-
lion is chiefly because the wide diff
ference in value between perfect
eggs and those of poor quality is
not carried back to the producer as
It should be, and it is not appre-
,iated or made effective as an in
,entive to care and the provision of
facilities, when dealing in
mixed qualities at average values. 1t
S only when dealing with uniform
Qualities that real differences in val
Ie are appreciated. At the present
ime western eggs candled and pack
d to a strict uniformity of perfect
uality can be sold to the very small
xtent of the supply of such at rel
lively extreme prices-50c a dozen
nd upward-while uniformly poor
uality may be worth no more than
4c if free from better goods. We
an see no reason why an equally
7ide range of paying prices should
ot prevail in dealings with egg pro-
ucers as between the perfect eggs
nd the poorest although it may not
e practical to classify the intermed-
tie qualities so closely.
Failure to make this widest possi-
lie discrimination in prices for eggs
l dealings with producers is the
-eakest point in the present mark
ting system. 1t is, we believe, one
{ the chief reasons for the growth
Z farmers cooperative marketing
and one which will give
lem their chief advantage in COM
etition with existing marketing
gencies.