P.D. 123 23 



State Projects 



Bristol-South Plymouth James T. Hennessey, Wareham, Chair- 



(constituted Mar. 18, 1931) man. 



Thomas W. Whitfield, Fairhaven, Secre- 

 tary. 

 Frederic A. Gower, Fall River. 

 South Shore James W. Turner, Scituate, Chairman, 



(constituted Mar. 28, 1931) Charles S. Clark, Duxbury, Secretary. 



Hollis T. Gleason, Cohasset. 

 Hon. Frank A. Manning, Brockton. 

 Frank L. Sinnott, Marshfield. 

 North Shore Hon. Michael Cashman, Newburyport, 



(constituted Mar. 27, 1931) Chairman. 



Howard N. Doughty, Ipswich, Secretary. 

 Lawrence J. Hart, Gloucester. 

 South Essex Charles F. Cotter, Lynn, Chairman, 



(constituted May 19, 1931) Henry A. B. Peckham, Saugus, Secretary. 



Edmund Talbot, Salem. 



REGULATORY WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT 

 Changes in Apple Grading Law 

 The effect of the Massachusetts Apple Grading Law was changed by new 

 legislation during the last session of the legislature. The law in operation 

 during the past 15 years was a compulsory law that required a definite grade 

 mark, upon all closed packages of apples. Some of our producers who were 

 not equipped with grading machines and other modern equipment have 

 found it difficult in the past to pack and mark their apples in full compliance 

 with the Apple Grading Law. Many of our fruit growers were desirous of 

 packing their fruit in closed containers and marking the containers with 

 three essential requirements: 



1 . The variety of fruit. 



2. The minimum size or numerical count. 



3. The name and address of the packer by whose authority the apples 

 were packed. 



There was, in fact, an increasing number of producers who considered that 

 a greater leeway should be provided in the marking and branding of apples. 



A committee of producers, marketing officials and others interested in 

 the development of the fruit industry presented an apple grading law to the 

 general court, and this law was passed by the legislature and became effective 

 July 11, 1931. This new legislation provides for the establishment and pro- 

 mulgation of grades by the commissioner of agriculture and optional use of 

 such grades upon closed packages of apples. It is no longer necessary to 

 mark or brand closed packages with an official grade, but if such packages 

 are marked and branded, it is essential that the requirements of the grade 

 be met. 



The regulatory phase of our work in connection with the enforcement of 

 the Apple Grading Law consists of: 



1. Tnspectio7is. All principal markets are inspected daily by 

 qualified men and a representative number of packages of apples 

 are inspected with reference to their compliance with the provisions 

 of the law. A report of the inspector's findings are submitted to 

 the department in each individual case. 



2. Hearings. In the case of violations of the Apple Grading 

 Law, a notice of an official hearing is sent to the parties concerned, 

 stating the place, date and hour of the scheduled hearing and a 

 brief description of the violation. Each case is heard separately 

 and a brief is prepared for further consideration. 



