P.D. 123 13 



a protection to consumers by assuring them of a continuous supply of 

 fresh, locally grown, graded farm products; second, as a protection to 

 the dealers by guaranteeing a standardized product ; and, third, as a pro- 

 tection to the Massachusetts farmer by providing for the identification 

 of his superior quality farm products and thereby helping him to suc- 

 cessfully compete with products shipped in from distant producing sec- 

 tions. 



Grading Program 



A program of uniform standard grades for New England farm products 

 was undertaken about a year ago. It was realized that New England 

 farmers were meeting increased competition from' distant producing sec- 

 tions which were able in many cases, because of their superior grading 

 and packing, to displace a considerable portion of the locally grown prod- 

 ucts in New England markets. Figures for carlot unloads in Boston, 

 Worcester, Springfield, and other wholesale markets in Massachusetts 

 show that during the last five years the receipts of farm products from 

 these distant sections has increased tremendously, while the local produc- 

 tion has been barely able to hold its own. It is generally agreed that the 

 inability of local growers to meet the western and southern competition 

 has been due to the fact that the locally grown products, in most cases, 

 have not been packed and marketed under standard grades. The dealers 

 and consumers in our eastern markets prefer to buy the better graded 

 products of the West and the South. 



In order to meet this situation, a grading program was outlined at the 

 First Annual Farm Marketing Conference in December, 1926, and steps 

 were immediately taken to carry the program into effect. A law was 

 passed and approved April 18, 1927, granting the Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture the authority to establish voluntary grades and standards for 

 farm products, and providing for an identification sign or label to be 

 used by those producers who wished to pack their products according to 

 the grade requirements. 



A label has been designed and will be sold at reasonable prices to Massa- 

 chusetts producers. The products sold under the label will be subject to 

 the supervision of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and fail- 

 ure to meet the grade requirements will forfeit the privilege of further 

 use of the label. The Division has already received many requests for the 

 label and a large number of producers will probably use it in selling their 

 1928 crops. 



Groups of poultry producers and market gardeners have met a number 

 of times in the state and have tentatively outlined the grade requirements 

 for eggs, bunched beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, asparagus, celery, and 

 strawberries. Other groups of producers are interested and the end of 

 another year should see the official adoption of grade requirements for 

 other commodities. The grades are based on careful studies of market 

 requirements. 



Enforcement of the Apple Grading Law 

 The Apple Grading Law requires that all apples grown in Massachu- 

 setts and sold in closed packages be marked according to grade. The en- 

 forcement of this law during the past few years has demonstrated its 

 worth to Massachusetts growers and consumers. The quality of local 

 fruit in our markets has improved and locally grown apples are success- 

 fully competing with western fruit for the fancy trade. 



A considerable amount of educational work is necessary each year in 

 order to inform growers as to the requirements of the Apple Grading 

 Law. During the fall of 1927 an apple grading and packing school was 

 conducted in Franklin County in cooperation with the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College and the Franklin County Extension Service. The 

 school was attended by a large number of apple producers. These men 

 competed with one another for a prize which was given to the man who 



