P.D. 123 lo 



Comparatively favorable prices received for onions during the past year or 

 two are resulting- in a tendency to expand acreage in the Valley. This is likely 

 to bring about an increased demand for shipping point inspection on this crop. 

 Demand for shipping point inspection of apples showed a substantial in- 

 crease over th6 previous year, because of the good market for local apples in 

 foreign countries, particularly Great Britain. This division continued its apple 

 work, having men available at all times during the season in the important 

 growing sections of the state. Much of this work must be done at the orchard, 

 in order that growers may know whether their apples meet the exacting 

 demands of foreign governments. Growers thereby avoid the difficulties and 

 delays that would result on shipments which might be rejected on the dock. 



Apple Grading Law 



Enforcement of the apple grading law was carried on by inspectors in city 

 markets, at country shipping points, and in cold storage warehouses. Rapid 

 increase in the development of country cold storage facilities has made it 

 necessary for this department to extend its storage inspection into these plants. 

 Up to within the past five or six years most of the apples held under refrigera- 

 tion were stored in city warehouses. Now the erection of country plants, with 

 an aggregate capacity in this state of upwards of 800,000 bushels has brought 

 about a shift of this business toward the apple regions. 



Policy of holding hearings befoi'e representatives of this division has been 

 continued, thus holding to a minimum the necessity of taking court action 

 against offenders of the law. , 



Produce Market News 

 Daily wholesale market reports were issued throughout the year on the 

 Boston, Worcester, and Springfield produce markets. The Boston reports were 

 mailed in mimeograph form to subscribers, and were broadcast over two Boston 

 radio stations. The Worcester reports were distributed in mimeograph foi'm, 

 were carried daily in the local papers, and were broadcast over a Worcester 

 radio station. The Springfield reports were carried daily in both local papers 

 and broadcast. Springfield reports are also supplemented by twice-a-week quo- 

 tations on the local poultry and egg sales. 



Special Apple Report 

 The special Apple Market Report was issued regularly throughout nine 

 months of the apple season. Feature of this service during the' past year has 

 been the building up of information on cold storage holdings of Mcintosh 

 apples. During the past five years the scope of this work has been gradually 

 enlarged so that reports on practically all important sections in New England 

 have been compiled on a monthly, and in some cases, weekly basis. During the 

 past year ari-angements were completed whereby this service was extended 

 into the Hudson Valley in New York State. This section is a heavy producer 

 of Mcintosh apples, and is the most important competitor of Massachusetts 

 apples on eastern markets. In response to a L5ti-ong demand from our apple 

 growers this division has now developed contacts whereby monthly reports on 

 Hudson Valley holdings ai'e issued. This service has never been performed 

 previously, either by public or private agency. 



Standardization Work 



Enforcement of the Farm Products Grading Law was continued throughout 

 the year. Inspection of pi'oduce carrying the New England Quality Farm 

 Products Label was made at the points of greatest advantage. Market centers 

 or assembling plants such as the Brockton, and Springfield Egg Auctions and 

 the Faneuil Hall Market district were the most important points of operation. 

 Farm inspections were also made wherever necessary. 



Asparagus. — The department continued its inspection service on this pro- 

 duct, mainly for the benefit of the Middlesex Asparagus Growers' Association. 

 Three mornings a week during the months of May, June and the early part of 

 July the inspectors checked up on the quality of the product as it arrived on 

 the market. 



