Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-09-28
.BAGA GROWERS
MEET, ORGANIZE
Association VIII Ask Minimum OF
IS per Ton for Current Crop;
Urges Support.

tiOnal Farmers Holiday Unit mass
meeting was held in the D. B. S. hall
Friday evening for the purpose of dis
GUESSING the sale and price control of
rutabagas.
Chris. Frederiksen opened the meet
ing and explained that officers of the
rutabaga association formed last year
had turned their problems over to
the Holiday unit and inasmuch as it
was not regular Holiday association
meeting he was chosen as chairman
and julius Slot as secretary for the
evening.
The chairman explained that the
Holiday board had met with local
rutabaga buyers and discussed with
them the problem of orderly market
ing and price control, and based upon
these discussions and other available
information set of plans had been
worked out for a possible organiza-
ton. The secretary read the pro-
posed plans.
After a little discussion it was de-
cided to organize an association under
the name of "Rutabaga Growers AS
sociation," affiliated with the National
Farmers Holiday Association. And
later in the evening board of direc-
tors of five men were elected as fol-
lows: Chris. Frederiksen, H. r. Buck,
julius Slot, Carl Madsen and Chr.
Morgensen. Mr.. Morgensen however
refused to serve and in his place Owe
Hermansen was appointed by the bal
ance of the board.
The board of directors met immed1-
ately after the meeting and organized
and made plans for immediate action
to retain the present price on ruta-
bagas and have it raised as soon as
possible. They also planned trips to
surrounding communities to have them
call meetings and organize similar
units.
Set Minimum.
The climax of the evening was pur-
pOsely saved for the very last thing,
that being the setting of minimum
price. There were a number of diff
ferent opinions ranging from IS per
ton and up. In the end there was a
| fair sized majority vote for establish
| ing a present minimum price OF SO
per ton. No member of the organi-
cation is permitted to sell below that
| figure, and as soon as the board sees
fit they will order an increase. Nom
members as well as members should
stick rigidly to the price set by the
association, it is argued.
| During the evening about 125 people
signed up as members of the associa-
ton and nearly all of them paid the
annual membership fee which was set
at SO cents. 1t is expected to have a
nearly 1000 membership within a
few days.
The meeting lasted almost three
hours and during that time the var
ious good points of the association
were brought out, and among the out
standing features the following were
noted:
The main purpose of the organization
is to promote and effect orderly mar
keting of rutabagas, and thus eventu.
ally bring a better price to the pro-
Queer. (By orderly marketing" it is
meant to not bring them to the mar
ket faster than there is demand fol
them.)
On account of the late organization
the association this year is only able
to set a minimum price; but the
board hopes from time to time this
fall and winter to increase that min
imum.
Next year the association expects
to work out an allotment and pooling
system, thereby guaranteeing each
member that he will be able to sci
his just share of the crop. This
should eliminate the competition
among the producers to get rid o.
their roots and thus also eliminate
the forcing down of prices. 1t should
also tend to bring better qualit!
on the market as the allotment mus
be in regard to tonnage sold and no
based on acres planted.
The association should be backed b!
every producer for through it he viii
be sure of selling his just share o
the crop; and also remedy his wors
trouble: that of getting a fair price
for his product.
The association should be backet
by every buyer or dealer for through
it they will be placed on an equa
buying level, and thus make it pos
sible to get a better quality which
naturally will create more and bette
markets.
And last but not least it should b.
backed by all business concerns for
will tend to bring more money int
> the producing communities and thu
create better business conditions.
Various members of the board o
directors went to neighboring com
munities the following day to inter
view and encourage producers t
establish organizations similar to tn
, one at Askov and thus do their shar
3 toward maintaining fair price an
! promoting orderly marketing.
rnt ahapa meetinp will he held a