P.D. 123 15 



The following organizations are cooperating with the Division of Markets 

 in furnishing timely recipes and menus: The Massachusetts Federation 

 of Women's Clubs, the Hampden County Improvement League, and the 

 Worcester County Extension Service. 



Cooperative Marketing 



Many farmers' cooperative marketing associations have asked for as- 

 sistance from the Division of Markets in making market contacts, in sup- 

 plying them with market information, and in the inspection of their prod- 

 ucts. Such services have been gladly performed and have been of con- 

 siderable value. 



The past year has seen the formation of two new cooperative marketing 

 associations: the Middlesex County Asparagus Growers' Association and 

 the Westford Apple Growers' Association. The Middlesex County Aspar- 

 agus Growers' Association was organized early in the year in order to 

 standardize the quality of asparagus shipped from the Concord section. 

 About twenty of the leading asparagus growers joined the association, 

 adopted uniform grades and a uniform box, and sold their product in 

 Boston. The Division of Markets cooperated in the organization of the 

 association and supervised the inspection of the asparagus on the mar- 

 ket. The association was able to build up a good demand for their prod- 

 uct and were able to get prices considerably higher than those obtained 

 for the ungraded product. 



The Westford Apple Growers' Association was organized during the 

 summer and a group of about twenty apple growers are now selling their 

 products in the Boston market. Their fruit is graded and packed uni- 

 formly and they are succeeding in building up a trade for a quality 

 product. 



Roadside Marketing 



The Division of Markets has made a number of studies of the roadside 

 market situation in order to provide some method of reasonable control. 

 The public and the farmer are both suffering from unfair competition on 

 the part of dealers or hucksters who sell at roadside stands inferior 

 produce trucked out from city markets. Some steps are necessary in 

 order to identify the real farmer stands which sell local produce. 



The Massachusetts Farmers' Roadside Stand Association is attempting 

 to meet the situation and has cooperated with the Massachusetts Division 

 of Markets in setting up and enforcing rules and regulations for the con- 

 duct of farmers' roadside stands. During the last year this association 

 requested the Division of Markets to inspect the stands of its members. 

 An inspection was made and recommendations for the improvements of 

 the situation were given. 



National Apple Week and National Egg Week 

 In order to stimulate consumption of local farm products, the Massa- 

 chusetts Division of Markets has cooperated with other public agencies 

 during the past year in promoting National Apple Week and National 

 Egg Week. The cooperation of chambers of commerce, storekeepers, 

 growers, hotels, railroads, and other interested parties was secured. 

 Thirty-five hundred posters were sold for Egg Week and were shown in 

 connection with window displays in the stores. Eggs were featured on 

 the menus of hotels, restaurants, and dining cars during the week. The 

 Department of Agriculture awarded ribbons for the best window dis- 

 plays during National Apple Week and silver cups were awarded to the 

 cities and towns which made the best showing. 



Crop Reports 



In cooperation with the New England Crop Reporting Service, reports 



are being published periodically of the acreage, condition, yield per acre, 



and production of the principal crops of the state. These reports furnish 



the farmers with the only available information of an unprejudiced na- 



