The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-03
ROADSIDE
MARKETING
GOLD UNDER YOUR GATE
By T. ]. Delohery

his fHDle applies IN Iack TO lnou-
sands of farmers. farm women and
children who have taken far shots at
unseen markets away over the hills.
and upon failing to get profitable
prices discovered even better markets
at their door or within easy distance.
Good roads, the automobile. parcel
post, express, city markets and the de-
sire OF the consumer for fresh, quality
food have not only shortened the
route to market for thousands OF tons
of products OF the farm, home and
garden. but have brought millions of
extra dollars to thousands Of farms.
approximately million farm people
sell S2OO.O00.0O0 worth OF produce OF
the farm, home. garden, forests and
Wild rural districts direct ~ the con-
sumer. In some cases this market pro-
vides the entire farm income. In 9TH.
ers 1t greatly supplements the money
brought In by the major farming ac-
tlvlty, even though In no way related.
There seems to be no end to what
consumers will buy from farmers. And
by the same token there are very few
farms on which something TO sell can
not be raised.
Roadside marketing Is the largest of
the direct selling outlets. Stands To-
Gated on main Travelled highways do
not have to hunt up customers, Hun
dreds and thousands pass daily but
1t Is up to the farmer to make them
stop 1t Is being done by thousands
of farm folks In all parts OF the coun-
try.
| highway, more than half the 80 farms
on the road sold direct to the consnm-
err. These producers, according to
comparison Of returns when produce
Is sold direct and marketed through
regular channels, got 60 cents OF the
consumers dollar The farmers who
sold on the terminal outlets received
but 1914 cents The difference de-
spite a higher labor charge for road
side markets, came In the elimination
| OF transportation and other charges
for getting food from the farm to con-
sumner.
Figures show the cost of distributing
food at the end of 1892 was AZ per
cent higher than before the war while
the farm price Of food was ~ per cent
lower than the same period
Surveys of roadside marketing have
been made In many states for the in
formation of farm folks who want to
market all or part OF their produce
In this way. In Ohio. for instance,
.1,7O0 odd markets were located on
$500 miles OF state road. The aver
age business of each stand was slight
ly over S1,700, ranging from several
hundred dollars to many thousand, de-
pending upon products handled and
length of the selling season.
In addition to roadside markets. an
other profitable local outlet is the town
retailers. The consumer demand for
homegrown products Is good. SO sur
veys have indicated. And this Is not
patriotism entirely. City people realize
that the nearer the source of supply
the fresher the food
Mrs *. L. Simerson, living several
miles outside OF the village OF Lin
| wood, North Carolina. supplies retail
stores In six cities with fruit, vege-
tables, chickens, eggs, milk and but
termllk to the tune of $500 year.
| All OF this food Is produced In her gar
den and home without any extra help.
When a Waterloo tIowa) grocer
asked W. s. Brown to bring In more
| OF the kind Of eggs he had been de
| livering, be said they had made de-
| cided hit with his customers and that
he could use many more than Brown
was supplying. So Brown called to-
gether 30 OF his neighbors who were
| working with the extension specialist
In poultry, and they formed an ASSOC
citation.
Each farmer graded and packed his
own eggs In cartons which bore the
| association name On the bottom of
| each box a number was stamped as
means OF Identification In event OF
complaints. None were made be-
cause of the good handling and fre-
| Quent deliveries of the eggs which
| brought premium of cents dozen
to the farmers.
]. P. Nelson Of Saltwater, Mimi, is
| dairyman who likes to play golf
| Dairying Is job which allows little
or no time for play; but Nelson,
| thanks to a change In marketing, not
only plays golf when he wants to but
Increased his milk income by Is per
cent. Whipping cream, sold to local
retailers. is the answer.
Elmer l.. Rhodes of Abilene, Kan,
finds selling to retailers permits bet
ter distribution OF labor In the pro-
| ductIon Of crops he sells over his road
| side market and In growing other
| things for sale later In the year Early
| crops. too small for roadside market
Ing and ready before customers start
coming to the roadside market. find
| good prices In town. Stores pay him
twice as much for early asparagus as
! he can command when the roadside
stand is open and production Is gen
1 r~c1 N,unof 1o~r opd fnu,pfonr tao