8 P.D. 123 



trial workers are paid good wages, and when workers are receiving good 

 pay they desire better products. If more of our growers realized this fact, 

 they would make a greater effort to fill the desire that comes as people 

 procure more wealth. 



Roadside markets in many instances are proving to be an efficient method 

 for the grower suitably situated to dispose of his crops to the consumer. The 

 difficulty which the motorist has in determining the farmer's stand using the 

 most ethical retailing practices from the pedler's stand discourages many of 

 the automobile travelling public from purchasing at any roadside market 

 whatever. 



The plan of identifying markets started by a group of farmers in Middlesex 

 County has the possibility of informing purchasers that they are buying 

 fresh harvested crops of the man who grew them. 



This plan of identifying the stands along our highways should be extended 

 in a uniform manner to cover the state. 



Plans developed by sections without regard to uniformity have the possi- 

 bility of confusing the prospective customer to the extent of defeating the 

 purpose of the identification. The object is to build up consumer confidence 

 in the farmer's retail methods. If a person is accustomed to buying direct 

 of the farmer operating under certain rules in one section of the state he will 

 expect the same opportunity when buying of a trade marked stand in any 

 other location of the state. 



Methods of distributing food commodities are continually becoming more 

 complex as population grows and as congestion in city centers increases. In 

 order to be well informed and to administer the duties assigned to us by law 

 and expected of us by the public, it is necessary to continually collect facts 

 upon which we can depend to guide us in our work. 



Following are brief statements of the Division's activities during the past 

 year. 



Wholesale Market News. 



Farmers' Prodxice Market. Reports on the Wholesale Produce Market 

 have been issued daily except Saturday throughout the year from our three 

 large markets, Boston, Worcester and Springfield. These reports are dissem- 

 inated in accordance with schedules of the previous year. 



Special News on Apples. The Special Apple Market Report is issued 

 during eight months, approximately, August 1-April 1. A fifty per cent 

 increase in subscribers during the past year testifies to the interests in this . 

 type of market news. 



An added feature this year has been the inauguaration of a daily Spring- 

 field Special Apple Market Report as a part of the regular Produce Market 

 Report. This service was started to meet the demand of apple growers in 

 the area from which the Springfield market draws its supplies. 



Weekly News Letters. Our Worcester and Springfield offices issue a regular 

 weekly news letter touching on items of interest in the market. These news 

 letters through their popular style are designed for the purpose of informing 

 consumers as well as distributors concerning the movement of some of the 

 important items of our food supply. 



SupplemeyUary Reports. Our supplementary market news service cover- 

 ing weekly reports on the Brighton Livestock Market and Hay, Straw, 

 Grain and Feed prices have been continued through the year. 



Dissemination of Market News. The policy of distributing market reports 

 only to those who subscribe an amount sufficient to cover postage is main- 

 taining our market news service on a sound and satisfactory basis. Waste is 

 avoided and those who have charge of the work are assured of the interest 

 of their readers. 



A rather wide distribution not easily estimated is also obtained for our 

 reports through the Associated Press and through the daily papers in 

 Worcester and Springfield. 



Sources of Information. It is through the cooperation of producers and 

 distributors that the compilation of market news is made possible. This 

 type of news is merely the "boiled down" opinions of men engaged in the 



