Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-09-16
new MARKETING
PLANS PROPOSED
FOR THE SHORE

Close on the heels of last week.
news that a cooperative marketing
program is under confederation for the
Eastern Shore, active interest anC
favorable comment are Forthcoming
from every class of Shore enterprises
In the opinion of Northampton
man widely identified with public af'
fairs, "There is positive need of new
marketing processes. The program
in operation for some years has failed
absolutely to bring satisfactory re-
suits in so far as our farmers are
concerned and their concern is pub
lie concern throughout the entire
Shore"
The majority of the fertilizer COM
panies operating on the Shore have
expressed open approval of far-reach
ing cooperative marketing. In state
ment which may be accepted as the
composite attitude of all of them, a
representative of one of the biggest
companies said, 1--WE heartily approve
of a cooperative development along
the lines as far as have been suggest
ed. We not only are sincere in TINS
statement, but we expect to work ear
nestly to help develop any sound CO.
operative plan with the purpose OF M
proving the financial standing of the
Eastern Shore Farmers"
Public comment of many people.
whether directly connected with farm
ing or engaged in professional or busi-
ness pursuits, is in agreement that
there are certain marketing practices
which must be eliminated or re-adjust
ed. There is also emphatic agreement
that these practices can not be eliml-
mated, or altered even, unless there
is wider and more direct farmer-con-
troll of the marketing of farm COM
modities.
"I see no hope for orderly market
ing and a reasonable income from the
land until these sore spots are cured"
This was the viewpoint expressed by
one of the leading independent farm
ers. "I do not believe the job can be
done unless the farmers themselves,
in increasing numbers, control their
own marketing outlets, which, in 9TH
er words, means One Cooperative Sell
ing Organization"
With one cooperative marketing out
let. the destructive practices which
were outlined last week could be
brought under control, with a conse-
quent saving to the producers of one
half million dollars annually. For in
stance
1. Competitive selling, price on
arrival and price protection. 1t is
generally believed that the selling
price could be increased 25c per bar
rel, or $46.25 per car. Counting 5000
cars white potatoes and $500 cars
sweet potatoes, or total of 10000
cars, would make a saving of $685.
625.00.
2. Present excessive brokerage
charges could be reduced at least 81
per car, or a total saving to the pro-
ducer on the above number of cars of
$42,OOO.OO
8. Present excessively high COM
mission rates could be reduced at least
$500 per car, increasing the annual
savings to the grower by 2,5OO.OO.
Those with whom these practices
have been discussed say that an addi-
tional saving could be made for the
growers through the opportunity Civ
en- to reduce the amount of adjust
ments made on off-grade goods.
Though it has been suggested that
cooperative marketing is the only Wis
ible road to lead the Shore away from
these destructive practices, the COM
plete details of a cooperative program
have to be worked out with the ap-
proval and active support of all-busi.
ness men as we'll as farmers.
However, the general scope of the
program thi time shows that its
main objective is to give Shore-wide
control by the farmers over the mar.
keting of their products.