Smyrna times., 1931-04-08
GAMERS MAY BUY TOMATOES
ON BASIS FEDERAL GRADES
w. Il. DERICKSON, OF BUREAU
OF MARKETS EXPLAINS PLAN
Many Growers of Tomatoes Have
Felt Methods of Selling Unfair
and Approve Federal Inspection

FtIt MStiiouS O Se1fiHS tH1dT
and Approve Federal Inspection
From present indications it ap-
pears that at least four canneries
will purchase their tomatoes this
season on the basis of u. S. Grad
es. about five years ago." says
w. t. Derickson, State Market Bu-
reau Director, "the government
placed inspectors at several can
neries on the peninsula in order to
secure data regarding the actual
quality of tomatoes in this section,
and in order to formulate grades.
These grades were formed and the
Bureau of Markets, of the State
Board of Agriculture, provided in
spectors at one or more canneries
in Delaware during the years 1928
and 1929, in order that the grow
ers and the Gamers of this State
might become acquainted with the
different grades. Many of the
growers of tomatoes of this State
have felt for a long time that past
methods of selling were unfair
both to the grower and to the can
ner. The grower had no incentive
TO deliver extra good quality to the
cannery, because of the fact that
the Gamer paid him no premium
for quality of this kind All to-
matoes were bought at certain
price per basket or per ton, and
the only incentive, in so far as
quality was concerned, was to put
them up good enough to pass the
inspector at the cannery. During
the past week, several meetings of
tomato growers have been held
and the plan of buying and selling
tomatoes on the basis of grades
has been discussed. Mr.. Shook,
who is secretary Of the Tri-State
Gamers Association. attended
these meetings and presented fig
ures covering the experiences Of
growers in other States, which
showed that the growers by selling
on a graded basis secured a prem
ium over the former fiat prices,
and presented a complete picture
Of how the plan is worked
Grading of Tomatoes Explained
w. T. Derickson, director, Bu-
reau Of Markets, explained that
the grading of tomatoes is almost
entirely a question Of color. OF
course, decay is not accepted and
size requirements are agreed upon
by the individual Gamer and pro
ducer; however, the principal ques-
ton is color. A red, ripe tomato
is necessary in order that the can
ned product will have the beautiful
rich, red color, which is SO neces-
sary. We know that Delaware can
produce tomatoes of the very high
est quality and under normal
growing conditions, it is believed
that the only thing necessary in
order to secure the very highest
quality will be for the Delaware
growers to let their tomatoes stay
on the vines until this rich, rec
color is obtained. The actual in
spection Of tomatoes will be made
On this basis. The Inspector viii
be supplied to the cannery by the
Bureau of Markets, of the State
Board of Agriculture, and will be
man who is trained and licensed
by the Federal government for this
work. The inspector viii take
sample of three baskets or approx.
imately 100 pounds of tomatoes
from each load. These tomatoes
are poured on a table and are di.
vided by the inspector into three
grades, u. S. No. i, U. S. No. 2
and Culls. The quantity of eact
grade is then weighed and the per
centage of each quality definitely
determined. The Gamer will ther
paw for these tomatoes according
to the quantity of each grade.
Prices Considered for the Grades
The Gamers who are going int
this plan are generally considering
for this year price of SIS per tor
for u. S. No. Is, $500 per ton fol
u. S. No. rs, and nothing for culls
On this basis this means 15c pc
basket for u. S. No. Is and 3O'
per basket for U. S. No. Is th'
present market conditions on to
: matoes are responsible for the low
er prices this season. The carry
over of tomatoes and tomato prod
ucts is heavier at this time than i
, has been for several years and tn
price is correspondingly low. Their
is no State law requiring that to
matoes be graded; however, il
view of the competition from othe
tomato-producing sections, it j
evident that Delaware grower
should endeavor to produce tn
highest quality possible"