The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1942-07-15
NO RATI0NING
OF FOOD FOR
TERRITORY NOW


In view of the widespread rumor
that has been circulated through
out Alaska that coffee, tea, spices
and possibly other food commodities
are about to be rationed in the
Territory. the Office of Price Ad-
ministration in Alaska, through its
director, Mildred r. Hermann, has
issued the following statement:
War Production Board restric-
tions on coffee and tea are appli-
cable only to wholesale receivers
and roasters in the United States
proper. No limit has been set on
the placing of orders by Alaska i'm
porters or sellers. Any information
to the contrary that has been given
Alaska merchants is probably based
on shortages existing with the
wholesalers with whom they have
been dealing. No rationing OF 1000
commodities in Alaska is contem-
plated at the present time by either
W.P.B. or O.P.A."
Rumor Circulated
The rumor that Alaska's full cup
of coffee" was due to be sharply
reduced seems to have been gen.
orally circulated throughout the
Territory, with the result that sew
eral chambers of commerce have
wired protests to Washington ag-
ainst an entirely uncontemplateo
procedure.
While it may be true that some
wholesalers on the Pacific coast
have been curtailing Alaskan ship
ments because of shortages in theil
own supply, this action is not due
to any regulation of either the
WPB or the OPA. Mrs. Hermann
explained. The office of Price Ad-
ministration suggests, however
that with the supply on the Wes'
coast limited, merchants might gel
their full shipments by placing
orders elsewhere if they are no
available on the West coast.
Housewives are assured OF
simple and accurate guide for buy
ing beef and veal when the new
OPA price regulation on thes'
meats becames effective July Is
the Consumer Division of the Offic,
of Price Administration said today
Meat Must Be Graded
Under the new order, all bee
and veal sold at wholesale mus
be graded according to Government
specifications of quality. Ceilinl
prices asked by beef and veal whole
salers must be related to the grade
stamped on each meat carcass.
Few housewives are trained t.
Judge the quality of meat by ap
pearance alone, according to mea
experts of the Consumer Division
Price is rarely an index to mea
flavor and tenderness. The nev
grading requirement is a guarantee
to the homemaker that she will
obtain the quality she pays for.
During recent years, some deal
ers have voluntarily used Govern
ment grades on meat. This gradin'
has been confined to only a small
part of the meats handled in in
iterstate trade, however. Private
packers also have graded meats
using their own quality specifica
tons and their own grade names
When the new regulation goe
into effect, shoppers will find al
beef, yearling, and veal stamped
with a grade letter. Government
grades now called prime" an;
f"choice" will be combined into tn,
new grade "AA". usually there i
only small quantity of this tol
grade available on the market. TIL
present Government grade know
as good" will be stamped "a, ant
will cover most of the bette
grades of beef and veal bought b.
house wives. The commercial
Grade will be stamped b., AM
TIE utility" grade will be stamps
&C.. The order requires no gradin
Of the poorer qualities now know
as Gutter" and Gamer"
In addition to the new alphabet
ical grades, consumers will con
tinue to find the old Government
grades and the grade names use
by private packers on some mea
Small cuts of meat, such as steak
and chops, may not show staml
l Shoppers who want to know whic
grade they are buying should ask
! see larger piece of the carcas
Quality Differences
Consumers who wish to ecor
|. omize can obtain nutritious mea
in the cheaper, as well as the hight
grades. Quality differences do affe,
meat flavor and cooking method
however. Cheaper grades are le
tender and must he cooked ltnge
Their flavor is improved by addir
, sauces and seasonings, or by stew
I ing them with vegetables fro
which they acquire other flavor
In general, suggests the COnsum