8 P.D. 123 



berries, bunched beets, carrots, turnips, radishes and celery, in spite of 

 the fact that needs for grades are evidenced in the increased arrivals of 

 out of State produce. On the other hand, asparagus growers, as well as 

 egg producers, have been actively interested. 



Egg Grading Becoming a Common Practice 



The use of the grades is spreading slowly, but recent increased com- 

 ments by producers indicate more rapid progress in the use of the labels 

 from now on. Approximately two hundred and fifteen thousand labels 

 have been sold to poultrymen and forty-two thousand to asparagus 

 growers. 



During the past year efforts have been made to acquaint the producer 

 and consumer with the New England label. Exhibits and grading demon- 

 strations were held in various parts of the State. Approximately two 

 hundred and fifty to three hundred thousand persons attended the Eastern 

 States Exposition where grades for vegetables and eggs were demon- 

 strated. Other displays were shown at Middlefield Fair, Brockton and 

 Worcester Fairs, the Reading Poultry Show and Faneuil Hall Market. 

 Approximately twenty talks on grading and standardization were given at 

 meetings of farmers associations. Articles were written for magazines 

 and newspapers, and men sending requests to county agents stating that 

 they are interested are being visited. 



About seventy-five inspections have been made. With one exception 

 and a few minor infringements where educational assistance was re- 

 quired, the grade requirements have been rigidly upheld. Producers in 

 some instances state that they have seen no benefit derived after using 

 the label for several months, but they do feel that they are working for 

 a future market and that it will take considerable time before the con- 

 sumer is thoroughly acquainted with the label and the high quality it rep- 

 resents. They also feel that "bootlegging" of eggs will be somewhat off- 

 set, since recourse can be obtained should labeled products be inferior to 

 grade requirements. Most "bootlegged" eggs are inferior to the Massa- 

 chusetts Special egg standard. 



Another effort toward establishing regular market price quotations for 

 Massachusetts Special eggs, and Massachusetts Fancy and A grade aspar- 

 agus is being made. During the asparagus season these Fancy and A 

 grades have been quoted. Poultry men are very much interested in re- 

 liable quotations, such as Massachusetts Special eggs. These prices are 

 being included on the Boston Retail Market Report, the contents of which 

 are being broadcast. 



Consumer advertising will be continued but this part of the program 

 cannot go faster than the rate at which producers use the label. 



Disseminating Market Information 



Reports on the wholesale produce market have been issued daily except 

 Saturday on our three large markets, Boston, Worcester and Springfield 

 as in former years. 



The special apple report is comprehensive and accurate and increases 

 in its usefulness and scope. 



For several years the Department has collected retail prices on food in 

 the vicinity of Boston and although they are valuable to consumers as a 

 buying guide, they also serve as a fundamental source of retail price data. 

 More and more as attention is being paid to analyzing the causes of price 

 changes the data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Agricul- 

 ture has been found invaluable. Many times during the past year the 

 Agricultural College, the Experiment Station and many individuals have 

 used this information. 



An important step in disseminating information about prices and sup- 

 plies was taken in the fall when the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture and several of the New England States joined to form a Market 



