Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-05

We've come out, OF this
1t was when we entered the
fight" says William B. Hooper,
general manager of the Mary
and-Virginia Milk Producers
Association.
I'VE know now that our
farmer-members will stick with
the association when it is at
tackled"
Sealtest Sees Losses
Sealtest appears to have lost
on all major fronts Of the COM
plicated war. However Edgar
N. Brawner. Chestnut Farms
general manager, maintains
that the battle has not ended
entirely. Here is the score:
I. Sealtest sought to en-
tice members of the coop to
sell milk directly to it in
stead of through the asso-
citation. This would have
given Sealtest a source Of
supply independent Of the
coop which controls 80 per
cent of the milk produced in
this area.
Result: Only one farmer
--out Of 1900 coop mem
bers - withdrew from the
producer group to sell directly
to SealteSt. 49,
q. The dairy started a move
To revise the Districts strict
milk sanitation code which
it saws gives the COOP con-
troll of the milkshed and acts
as a trade barrier. After q
series of conferences, the Dis
trict Health Department has
submitted to the Commits
Sioners its proposed changes
in the regulations.
Result. Mime of the i'm
uortant changes Sealtest
nronosed has heeu accented
nv district health OfTiciaIs.
For SeaItesf. the prouosed re-.
visions are disappointing"
z The dairy insisted that
a ANCIENT premiIm for
quality milk the Maryland
VIRGINIA coon demands for
its farmers e out of line
To avoid the nremi,Im the
dairy started importinr
cheaper milk from Penn
sylvania milksheds.
ResuIt. The co.on sum-
uorted a Federal marketing
order which establishes the
lowest nrices diaries in this
area can nav farmers for
raw milk. The Federal order
means M A. econouicaIIv i'm
practical for SeaItest to con-
Time bringing in out-of-
area milk excent for a small
amount.
-T,,. -. H.. m. ,-o,,;h;.
a.. 800 49, 60. 49,. "I,..~;rr go
thing II can get above the
minimum uriee-and the as
sOeiatiOn Immediately in.
formed the diaries that the
Accent premium was being
added to the price.
Under the Federal order,
If a dairy buys cheaper milk
outside the miIkshed, fore
ing local farmers to dump
an equivalent amount into
surplus, the dairy is required
~. 80 tha-ahv .seured ~
getting at least the mini
mum price. Consequently.
with the order put into eff
feet last week. Sealtest had
no alternative-it agreed to
pay the Maryland Virginia
coop the premium.
On Sealtest's plus side, the
dairy's officials say they now
have a chance to make some
profits where there had been
serious losses before.
Last year. -Sealtest officials
said. the dairy lost 100000 on
its route and wholesale bust
ness. Mr.. Brawner said the
new price increase can produce
a profit-how much, he could
not say.
frlce war Gn0s
The milk marketing order
went into effect last Wednesday
the same day Sealtest in
creased consumer prices. The
oaa lace than q cent a c,,art
Other major diaries followed
Sealtest's move. 1t ended a price
war which had brought nearby
Maryland consumers cheaper
milk for the past few months
The price war started wher
Sealtest cut Maryland prices
on the basis of the cheaper
milk it was importing from
Pennsylvania. This milk wa.
not approved for sale in the
District because it was not pro.
d,Iced on District-inspectet
farms.
AZ prauo.,. ,o;d +hs ,,yic,
w W. j;J =, ,e $500 cast &c, csaISast snv.
~ We. -U -. ~ = hsI,,sS a. Ja;y,
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