No. 123.] REPORT OF COIMMISSIONER. 15 



The more efficient distribution of food, which is fundamental 

 to our marketing problems in Massachusetts, involves not only 

 our local agriculture and its marketing phases, but also the 

 factors of distribution involved in the marketing of foodstuffs 

 received from other sources contributing a large proportion of 

 our food consumed. 



The problems of marketing concern the producer, middleman 

 and consumer, the transportation companies, auto truck owners, 

 the cold-storage companies, our banks, brokers, wholesalers, 

 shippers, etc., and all are involved in the complicated ma- 

 chinery which has developed and by means of which our food 

 supplies are distributed. This machinery has been erected as 

 the demand of a growing country required; although in some 

 degree the outgrowth of chance, its development has been 

 guided in the main by the best judgment which the experience 

 of business men could give. As conditions and times change, 

 improvements come. To use revolutionary methods would 

 cause the breaking down of the whole system without accom- 

 plishing the desired results; it is necessary, therefore, to proceed 

 with caution in our work of making an established system 

 more efficient. 



Facts, and not rumors, must be our guides. A thorough 

 understanding must be acquired of each factor in our methods 

 of distribution and system of marketing. They are closely 

 woven and one cannot be adjusted without having its effect 

 upon the other. These effects should be forecasted as far as 

 possible in order that the results desired may be attained. 



The distribution of human necessities through the most 

 economic marketing system which can be devised and built up 

 out of our present machinery is the just demand of the public, 

 and this will be accomplished as rapidly as co-operation is 

 secured among the business, administrative and educational 

 agencies. 



The elimination of deceptive practices in marketing and dis- 

 tribution will be a large factor in reducing the wasteful and 

 excessive" handlings from producer to consumer. Those who 

 do not perform a necessary service can be weeded out and 

 the present system will be benefited. No opportunity should 

 be neglected to detect and accomplish the removal of the 



