Evening star., 1946-12-08


sure the maintenance of high
standards of quality. Some years
ago Maryland passed the fruit and
vegetable inspection law. 1t pro-
vides the legislation whereby such
an action can be taken.
There is a need for additional
work in the Standardization of sizes
of containers in packing and mar
keting fruits and vegetables. Much
work has been done in standardiz-
ing baskets and hampers for fresh
fruits and vegetables, but much ad-
ditional gain could be obtained and
confusion eliminated if other types
of containers such as cans, crates
boxes and cartons were also brought
under regulations.
More attention should be given to
the storage and warehousing OF
farm products. This activity is OBJ
viously of great Importance to farm
ers, cooperative. marketing associa-
tons, banking, institutions, mer-
chants and to the Government in
its price support and lending oper-
ations.
The Federal Warehousing Act has
been very successful in preventing
loss and improving service, by
licensing of warehousemen. Linz
tied studies have shown that there
is considerable loss in the storing
OF farm products in unlicensed
warehouses. Very little or nothing
has been done in providing the
supervision for better warehouslng
for products that are stored in un-
licensed warehouses.
1t is generally conceded that
terminal markets for the wholesale
marketing of fruits and vegetables
are inadequate. Millions OF dollars
are being added to the cost OF
marketing each year by unnecessary
handling.
Study Of Waste Is Vital.
Additional need in the marketing
system is more complete study OF
the cost, waste and ineficiency OF
marketing, item by item. The chan
ne1 of distribution.
But following the course that I
have outlined, we will be contin-
ually working to assist farmers in
moving the greatest possible guam
tity of produce with reasonable in.
come to themselves; provide con-
sumers with an abundant supply of
commodities which they need to
make US a satisfactory standard OF
living; of the distributors in i'm
proving their operation both from
an economic and ethic point of view
and in the end keep the marketing
of farm products in private hands
and minimize the extent to which
the Government has to be used for
price support. ia S7!id
Specifically, in the State of Mary
land, would like to give you q
bird's-eye view of what we are PLAN
ming to accomplish in broad gen.
eral policies that I have just out
lined. However, I would like to
make an important point. The
field of marketing has been dis
regarded for so long and there are,
consequently, so many things that
ought to be done that we end up
with a great number of fields to
cover. Under such conditions 1T Is
that we assign prior1ties
to the principal fields. Ai%
It is obviously necessary to have
/ well-rounded and comprehensive
program that will provide
the necessary facts In each of the
fields to, be developed. Therefore,
research projects have been pre-
pared in each of these fields.
Efficiency Increasingly Needed.
7 believe that farmers and agri-
cultural leaders of the country real
Ize more now than ever before that
their job is not done when the farm
commodity is produced. They
realize that for the last several years
we have been in a situation of un-
usual demand. Most now feel it is
necessary to increase ef1ciency-toI
change and modify the methods OF
in order to benefit both
the producer and the consumer. For
this reason service and research
conducted by public agencies and
supported by private agencies,
wherever that is possible, should be
initiated and conducted in greatly
increased measure in the field of
agricultural marketing.
Marketing is more than the mere
of farm products. Sue
cess to marketing begins with quail
ity production and ends with the
satisfied consumption of farm prod
ucts. The marketing department in
the State has been planned around
one basic necessity-to get maxi
mum marketing service to Mary
land producers in the promotion
and sale of Maryland agricultural
products. This involves assistance
and direct cooperation in all the
phases of marketing.