Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE SUN, NEWBERRY, S. C, JULY 17, 1942 Streamlined Distribution Increases Farm Income Consumers Heeded, Marketing Plans Are Developed, Standards Raised. For years Jefferson county, Kentucky, growers sent their Irish potatoes into northern markets to compete with plentiful supplies from other sections of the country. When the 1941 harvest season opened last July with the north ern market heavily glutted, grower-members of the St. Mat thews Produce Exchange, Jefferson County Co-operative, pre pared to give up potatoes as a cash crop. In a last desperate effort to salvage their cash crop, R. W. Hite, president of the exchange, called his membership to- 232,000 More Latest figures of the depart ment of agriculture reveal that there were 232,000 more persons employed on American farms on June 1 than on the same date a year ago. past built “consumer resistance’’ to better grades during peak move ments, are being reduced. Growers are building their home markets, with the active aid of dis tributors, extension services and ag ricultural leaders. Retail distribu tors, chain and independent, at the request of growers, are staging timely advertising and promotion campaigns. In brief, growers are striving to place marketing on a non- speculative basis and to develop FARM TO RETAIL STORE COOP METHOD Members of the Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers associa tion market 60 per cent of their output by moving it direct from farms in 45 counties to nearby retail stores. As a result, the 848 growers mar keting through the association last year got 80 cents of the retail dollar, far above the national average share. An association truck is shown unloading potatoes at the back door of a large retail store. gether for a meeting with a group of distributors and restaurant oper ators. Instead of trying to move the potatoes into overloaded outside markets, the growers agreed with several distributors to seek to de velop a market within the state through a “Kentucky Potato Cam paign.” The resulting drive enabled the stores to move a large percent age of the crop locally and to boost prices paid the association 40 per cent. Now, instead of reducing their production, the 150 members of the exchange plan a 10 per cent in crease this year in line with the federal government’s request for greater production of fresh fruits and vegetables to aid the “Food for Victory’’ program. The Kentuckians’ experience is one of many examples of how growers throughout the country are attacking the major prob lem created by the increased production called for in the “Food for Victory” drive—find ing profitable markets for the great crops of fresh fruits and vegetables now ripening in the fields and orchards of Amer ica. * Production no longer is the prob lem—farmers throughout the nation are responding wholeheartedly to the government’s appeal for more fresh fruits and vegetables for America’s dining tables. This year’s crop yields, intention reports of the department of agriculture indicate, will be the largest since 1933. Production increases in certain crops and in certain sections of the country are tremendous. Through June 13, the department of agricul ture reported, rail shipments of commercial truck crops were 13 per cent greater than a year ago. Move ment was heavier for beans, beets, carrots, cauliflower, green corn, cu cumbers, mixed vegetables, onions, spinach, cantaloupes, strawberries and Irish potatoes. During one two- week period alone, shipment of commercial early potatoes rose nearly 2,000 cars above the corre sponding period of 1941. Growers Improve Production. Along the fruit front increases as large as those for fresh vegetables are not likely—it takes years to develop new fruit trees. However, growers are expected to improve production through more applica tions of fertilizers, better orchard management practices and elimina tion of as much waste as possible in production, harvesting and pro cessing. With production under control, the nation’s growers now must make sure that their “vitamin bullets” reach the 130,000,000 Americans for whom they are intended. As Secretary of Agriculture Wickard recently pointed out, production is “only the first step. Food, as one of the mu nitions of total war, is effective only when it is in the right form, at the right place, and at the right time.” Realizing more than ever that their job does not end with the har vest but instead extends to the con sumer’s market basket, farmers are paying increasing attention to the necessity of streamlining the distri bution system to eliminate waste and to increase their own cash re turns. With fruit and vegetable growers throughout the country get ting only 35 cents of the retail dol lar for their sales through all trade channels, growers are seeking to perform their own operations at the lowest possible cost while at the most economical marketing chan nels. Working with distributors, exten sion directors, county agents and heads of state colleges of agricul ture, growers are developing mar keting programs and are making or ganized efforts to raise grade and pack standards to meet consumer demand. Movements of early sea son poor varieties and immature produce, shipments of which in the full co-operation among grow ers, shippers, distributors and state and federal marketing agencies in the job of moving food from farm to dinner table. Farmers are increasing their marketing efficiency in a variety of ways. In Alabama, for example, thousands of bushels of tomatoes grown in Blount county in recent years were bought by itinerant truckers at unusually low prices. The truckers then hauled the toma toes 100 miles across country to Atlanta and sold them to wholesal ers. Often the wholesalers trucked them back more than 100 miles to Birmingham, only a short dis tance from Blount county. Farmers Got Almost Nothing. Consumers frequently paid sky- high prices for the tomatoes be cause of the expenses of the trip, various handling costs and profits— yet the farmers themselves got al most nothing. Thus when the A & P last summer guaranteed the Blount Countians a market for their toma toes if they would set up a market ing co-operative to assure quality and quantity, the growers respond ed immediately. With the active backing of the Agricultural Extension service and the marketing support of the stores, 75 growers formed the Blount Coun ty Tomato Growers association, bought a second-hand grader and 1,600 tomato crates with an invest ment of less than $700, and began operations the first of September. Association members averaged $2.50 a bushel the first two months, double the top average in past years. In New England, New Hampshire potato growers worked out with chain stores a direct farm-to-store marketing operation which returned to the farmers 78 cents of the retail dollar, compared with the national average share of only 52 cents for all grades marketed through trade channels. In Pennsylvania, 848 grower- members of the Pennsylvania Co operative Potato Growers associa tion have developed a direct farm- to-retail-store system unique in the annals of farm marketing. The’ co operative sells 60 per cent of its output on a “streamlined” basis whereby growers deliver individual ly to nearby stores. With no middleman save the gro cery counter, both farmer and con sumer benefit. Potatoes for which the grower is paid from 17 to 19 cents per peck are sold to the con sumer for only 20 to 21 cents. Dur ing the 1941-42 marketing season, the association sold 4,918,499 pecks for $1,324,065. DIRECT MARKETING IN S. CAROLINA Farmers, seeking to solve transportation problems created by the war and also find more profitable markets for their produce, are moving much of their produce as directly as possible from farm to retail stores. Here L. C. White (right), field buyer for the Atlantic Commission company, watches peaches being loaded onto a truck at a packing shed operated by members of the Ridge Peach and Vegetable association at Ridge Spring, S. C. The truck takes the fresh peaches directly to retail stores. Rural America Losing Youths to Cities Human tides held back in rural areas by lack of employment in in dustrial centers from 1932 to 1941 now are flowing cityward at accel erated speeds, in the opinion of Dr. A. R. Mangus, department of r;:ral sociology, Ohio State university. Dr. Mangus recently issued a re port of a survey made in Ross coun ty to find what had happened to the 4,629 young men and women who were between the ages of 18 and 27 when the census was taken in April, 1940. The survey made in March, 1942, disclosed that 1,200 of those young men and 800 of the young women left the county in the two years since the census was taken. The survey also showed that in dustry took more young men from the county than the number who en listed or were inducted into the army. A larger percentage of both young men and women left villages with less than 2,500 population than went from farm homes. Fruit and vegetable growers throughout the nation face other big problems resulting from the nation’s war effort. Transportation, both rail and truck, is becoming more and more of a problem as rail facili ties are taxed to capacity. Working with the extension serv ices, other agricultural leaders and distributors, farmers are moving to solve this problem, too. Movement of produce directly from farm to retail store is being increased. Where possible, farmers are find ing markets closer to home for their fruits and vegetables. Kathleen Norris Says: On Week-End Visits Take Food With You B«U Syndicate—WNU Feature*. When you go on a week-end visit take along things your host and hostess really need, not ridiculous toys that bore the children, or candy, but essentials such as coffee, split broilers, butter, tinned ham, eggs, bread. By KATHLEEN NORRIS D ON’T go visiting your friends in the country this year without taking your sugar allowance along. And while you’re about it, take other things, too. When a young couple buy a su burban home they are in for a delightful experience. The sun- flooded rooms, the privacy, the garden, the very feeling of own ing the ground under their feet and the roof over their heads is wonderful; it is a feeling all young persons ought to have. Perhaps the most enjoyable phase of it is the opportunity it offers for hospitality. Bob and Betsey are enchanted by that extra bedroom and bathroom. Betsey puts all sorts of pretty furnishings in, finishes the bathroom with pink soap and pink towels, equips the dressing-table with a score of pink trifles to match its pink bows. She can’t wait for the fun of having Martha and David down, and when they arrive she exultingly announces that Lydia and Sam, Sonya and Phil are coming in for lunch the next day, too. Costly Hospitality. It is only after two or three week ends that Bob and Betsey look at the bills, look ruefully at each oth er, and add up the bills again. The cost of the soft drinks, coffee, but ter, ice, lemons, ham, soap, laun dry work, firewood and telephone charges that this happy hospitality represents simply appalls them. They can’t keep it up! But they don’t know how to stop it. Sundays are hot in town and their lovely garden isn’t very far away. Out come the friends, to sit panting under Bob’s trees, to r-s- sent the small son and daughter ith seven-dollar snowy lambs or large complicated games, to hand Betcey a box of rich candy and to feel that these gifts entitle them to about twenty dollars’ worth of food, drink, service, rooms and comfort. Everything else has changed this year, and it is for visiting friends to change this, too. When you go on a week-end visit take things the Bobs really need, not ridiculous toys that only bore the children, or candy that gives everyone prickly heat. Load up your car with such essen tials as coffee, split broilers, cases of bottled drinks, pounds of butter, tinned hams, eggs, bread. You’ll find a warmer welcome from flushed little Mrs. Bob than you ever got before. This rule obviously doesn’t apply to big establishments, where a staff of servants is kept. The older per sons who manage such homes are prepared for the onslaught upon their ice-boxes. But to any couple of moderate means, living quietly with no help or part-time help, your loaded grocery box will be a bless ing, and brighten the week-end for your hosts as well as yourselves. Inherited a Farm. “For many years,” writes an Iowa wife, “my brother and sister, their wife and husband, and from one to five children have been com ing out to us for every holiday they could seize. We’re all country bred and when we inherited this farm on the death of Jim’s grandfather, loud and envious were the shrieks from the rest of the clan. “Immediately we built an outdoor kitchen and dining-arbor, put ham mocks on the porches and told the family it was open house. Jim shared the crop profits with the ten- YOU’LL BE WELCOME As a week-end guest are you always sure of your welcome? If not, then here’s a tip that will do much to insure a stand ing invitation. Don’t burden yourself with a lot of expensive, useless gifts for your host or hostess. Take them something they really need. Instead of some costly knick-knack for the chil dren, take them a ham, a split broiler, some coffee or butter— something that will cut down ex penses for your hosts. Remember your own grocery bills! A continuous flow of com pany isn’t conducive to the well being of your budget. Do unto others .... ant farmer; I was in heaven, with plenty of fresh air, milk, eggs, fruit for my babies—from the first week I wanted to share it with those I loved. When he came home at noon on Saturdays, Jim had marketed for me, and sometimes the list was as long as my arm. “One month that first summer my grocery bill, exclusive of the milk, vegetables, butter, eggs and so on from the farm, was more than one hundred dollars. We had to call a halt. “We all had an honest talk. It was an agonizing talk for Jim and me. We told them all frankly what the trouble was; that an occasional box of candy, swim suits for the chil dren, guest soaps and guest towels, although welcome and charming gifts, did not pay our bills. A Practical Suggestion. “My husband’s brother, a prosper ous doctor, who adores our farm, and is never so happy as when he and Jim and the other men are fell ing trees, building a dam, gather ing fruit, working themselves ex hausted, was first with a practical suggestion. “ ‘When Minna and I bring the girls out here,’ he announced, ‘we’ll bring • food to the amount of three dollars apiece. Any other outing would cost us that, and this is our favorite outing.’ “We protested of course, and we finally did get them to cut it down to two dollars apiece. Since then, and that was eleven years ago, when my sister and her husband, or my brother and his wife, bring their boys here, they bring between them eighteen dollars worth of food. This means that all week long I don’t pay a cent for groceries, that their coming—always welcome—is doubly welcome because it means no strain on my budget. On the contrary, they call me the rich old boarding house keeper, and I don’t care a bit. “Also, I think it gets children into responsible habits. When ours go away for a visit they always ask me for jams, fresh eggs, bacon, fruit or butter as a present for their hostess. ‘What would they like, mother? What shall I take?’ are questions heard as often as ‘What can I wear?’ Or ‘Where’s my ten nis racket?’ Something to Remember. “Now, this year of all years,” this helpful letter continues, “I think this is something to remember. Remem ber that if your host on a hot day turns himself into a sort of bar keeper, and is going back and forth with glasses all the time, that that costs a surprising lot of money. To find a case of soft drinks cosily es tablished near your ice-box, when the guests have gone, is to burst into a sort of prayer of gratitude: ‘Well, God bless old Tom! He never forgets!’ Youngster’s Set I/'NEE deep in June she’ll be a ravishing picture in this cun ningly designed bonnet, pantie and frock with its bright rosy red ap ple for a pocket! The pinafore frock just ties in place at the sides and has no seams at all so it is very, very simple to make. Pan- ties to match and a shady, wide brimmed sun bonnet complete a set which every child should own for summer. • • • Pattern No. 8198 Is designed for size* 1. Z, 3. 4 and S years. Size 2 set takes 2(4 yards 36-!r.ch material, 7 yards braid to trim. Send your order to: SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT. Room 1116 211 West Wacker Dr. Chicago Enclose 20 cents in coins tor each pattern desired. Pattern No Size Name Address The new steel helmet just adopt ed by the Army is no longer called a “tin hat.” It’s a “head bucket” and when you see one you’ll know why. Our soldiers have changed much of their slang since the last war, but not their preference for Camel Cigarettes. Now—as then —Camels are the favorite. They’re the favorite cigarette with men in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard as well, according to actual sales records from service men’s stores. If you want to be sure of your gift to friends or relatives in the service being well received, stop in at your local dealer’s and send a carton of Camels.—Adv. BABIES SICK? FEEL LOW? MAYBE FL/ES BROUGHT DISEASE! USE TANGLEFOOT FLYPAPER Flies pick up dirty disease germs and drop them on your food. Then you and the children are sick. _ _ STOP SICKNESS NOW! - ^ Buy low ' cost TANGLEFOOT \/ Q Fly Paper—‘‘It catches the Germ as well as the Fly!” SoM at Crocary * Hard war* and Drag S taros JuST&f HOW IT HilKYOU! WHITCRSMITH’S TOniC A Mafatia/ y-Rus-rep for ■y-at years f p5T°lN THE CAM £4 It With men in Hie Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, the favorite cigarette is Camel. (Based on actual sales records in Post Exchanges, Sales Com missaries, Ship’s Service Stores, Ship's Stores, and Canteens.)