The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-02-05
Fix minimum Fair
Price For Tomatoes


the Allen County USDA War Board,
today announced minimum fair prices
for tomatoes for canning which have
been established by the Ohio USDA'
War Board, in accordance with the
recently announced minimum fair
price policy of the U. 5. Depart
ment of Agriculture.
For tomatoes purchased on an un-
graded basis, and delivered at the
cannery, major grading station or
assembly point, Patterson said, it
was decided that Ohio growers should
receive a minium price of $3.50 a
| ton.
Minimum fair prices for tomatoes
purchased on a graded basis, deliv-
cred at the plant, major grading sta
ton or assembly point, were estab-
lished at $21.00 per ton for No. l
grade tomatoes. and $14.00 per ton
for No. grade.
The minimum fair price scale for
| tomatoes as established by the Ohio
USDA War Board applies mainly to
those Gamers who wish to qualify
for Government purchase of their
products. The Department of Agri-
culture, through the Agricultural
Marketing Administration, will pur-
chase all quantities of 1912 canned to-
matoes offered to it by Gamers who
have been certified by the Ohio
USDA War Board as having agreed
| by contract to pay growers at least
the minimum fair prices set up.
Adjustment of prices for tomatoes
for canning cases at a time when
the Government is calling for an
increase in the tomato crop to the
highest peak in history. Ohio grow
ers have been asked to grow % per
cent more tomatoes this year than
were grown in 1941. 1t is expected
that establishment of the minimum
fair price scale by the State USDA
War Board will provide the incentive
to growers to meet the increased de-
mands. On a national scale, the De-
partment of Agriculture is asking for
40 million cases of canned tomatoes
for use in meeting increased civil
ian and Lend-Lease requirements.
L &c H. ~.
Board consulted a committee select
ed by the Ohio Gamers Association
and number of representative to-
mato growers, while determining the
minimum fair price to Ohio tomato
growers. Allowances were made, ac-
cording to the Board, for increased
costs of cannery operations, as well
as other factors such as Transports
ton difficulties and material short
ages.
The minimum fair price scale es.
tablished for tomatoes does not con,
stitute ceiling on prices, the Boarc
stressed. Any increase over these
prices is a matter for negotiation be-
tween Gamers and growers.
The U. S. Department of Agricul.
ture has agreed to purchase canned
tomatoes from canneries, provided
they are certified by the Ohio USDA
War Board, through December 81
1912, at a base price of 95 cents pei
dozen for No. 2 cans, f. o. b. can
merry, for U. S. Grade C canned to-
| matoes.
Ohio USDA War Board was asked
by the U. S. Department of Agri
: culture on December 10, 1941 to re
commend minimum fair prices fol
tomatoes at least $500 per ton, il
the case of tomatoes for canning
over the comparable average 194l
prices found by the Board to hav,
been paid to growers in Ohio.
The USDA War Board also recon-
mended that the minimum fair price.
established for tomatoes for cannins
serve as minimum fair prices for to
matoes purchased for processing.