The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-29
FARMERS SELL
TO MOTORISTS;
PROFIT IS BIG
Roadside Markets Are Doing
Roaring Business During
Tourist Season

Washington. D.. c.. Aug. 29.-Road-
side markets have done roaring
business during this touring season
and a conservative estimate places
at $l06O0O.0OO the product that mo-
florists will buy direct from the farm
ers in 1927.
This estimate is based on reports
from road cars of the A. A. A. and
from any Of the individual clubs of
the national motor federation. Re-
ports disclose that while roadside
marketing has received more inten-
sive development in some states than
in others, the growth Of the move
ment is essentially on national
scale. IS,
Assuming Importance
This. isl an aspect Of the national
hu siness created by motoring that is
assuming major Importance" Thos.
p. Henry. president Of the American
Automobile Association, declared.
AT the present rate of growth it
should become half-billion dollar
business within few years"
! Mr.. Henry called attention to the
fact that in order for the farmer and
his cash customers, the motorists
from the city, to reap the full benefit
from the facilities afforded by the
roadside market, certain abuses had
to be eliminated. He said:
"The farmers, as far as our re-
ports indicate, deal honestly with
their clients and it is not their fault
If dishonest traders from the city
rent corners ut country crossroads
produce purchased in city markets,
~ v,,,,nh btuhop v,vsnoo than ho%
produce could command in the city.
This is still going on but it can easily
be eliminated if all the states fol-
low the example of states such as
New Jersey, Massachusetts,, Rhode
| Island, and others, in which road Side
marketing associations have been set
up. These organizations will not
only increase business, but they will
be able to eliminate the dishonest
trader.",
Modifies Antagonism
The A. A. A. executive believes that
roadside trading has done much in
the past few years to modify the
. lingering antagonism' of the. farmers
toward the city motorists. There is
, still, however, he says, room for i'm
provement in their relation.
mo class of property owners he
said, sis more jealous Of the rights
of property and the sanctity inherent
| in such rights than the American
farmer. Bearing this in mind, it is no,
at all surprising that the occasional
| depredations Of the unthinking city
motorist into the rural community
provoked the fierce resentment of the
! farmers.
"This has been rather unfortunate
from the standpoint of the mot0ris,
and the farmer alike, since it hamp.
cred the development of contacts which
could not fail to result in very sub
stantial advantages to both. Thu
motorist is today one of the farmers
, best cash customers. For one thing
i servicing the motorist at the road
side is the only way he has evel
found Of eliminating the middlemal
of whom he. has so bitterly com
planned.
"This is not all by any means. Their
is good reason to believe, that tn
farmers would greatly increase tn
potential market for their land j
: they renowned petty antagonism
and maintained their farms on exhi
bition, as it were. Here is wher
they could well afford to take
leaf from the realtors book of sale
psychology.
!, Model Farms' Draw Tourists
"Dr. A. w. Gilbert, the Massachu
sets Commissioner of Agricultur.
has done exactly this. He went GU
; and persuaded the farmers with sho'
places to permit him to print
/ pampnlet giving the names ana locs
7 lions of model farms and inviting tn
motorists. to call. The beginnin
made by DR.. Gilbert is capable c
enormous expansion.
1T would soon destroy the lingel
: ing belief Of the farmer that man
city motorists are vandals; it wOul
accelerate the growth of good feelin
and understanding between the di.
: ferent elements of the population
!. which should be one Of the most va
! liable by-produucts Of improved trans
portation.
what, it can do in the realm
i work -a-day things is amply prove
D. by the. great increase in roadsit
!, marketing. This form Of trading
t, just in its infancy. The extent
t which it. will grow depends large
ON mutual trust, understanding al
fair DEALING" y.