10 P.D. 123 



working on an advertising program. The egg producers, for example, had an 

 egg consumption committee which prepared a program for selling Massachu- 

 setts fresh eggs. 



Turkey Marketing 



The Mass. Turkey Growers Asso. was reorganized this year, due to the 

 fact that the growth of the industry had reached a point where an orderly sys- 

 tem of marketing was necessary. It is estimated that 200,000 turkeys were 

 produced in 1938, at an approximate value of $1,000,000. This organization 

 called upon the department to supervise the standard of quality which it 

 adopted. In other words, the Mass. Native Fancy Grade, which is the official 

 state grade, was used. Inspections, so far as could be, were made at the 

 fann. The greatest number of birds, however, were inspected in the ware- 

 houses of the larger chains. Turkey grading schools were held in several 

 places in the state for the benefit of the producers. At tihese schools turkeys 

 were brought in by the producers and graded according to the official state 

 standard. Exhibits of these high quality birds were also displayed at a few 

 food shows. Other assistance, such as making designs for posters, was offered 

 to this organization of Massachusetts turkey growers. 



Roadside Stand Inspection 



The department continued to inspect roadside stands displaying the Bay 

 State Farm products shield, which is an official identification of farmers road- 

 side stands, complying with the requirements of the department of agricul- 

 ture. These stands were inspected for cleanliness, quality of products, parking 

 space, types of containers used, method of display. Whenever the department 

 could offer assistance in other ways, such as giving publicity to the roadside 

 stands by means of radio talks, or exhibiting at consumers meetings, it was 

 done. Speakers were also furnished for the annual meeting of the Massachu- 

 setts Farmers Roadside Stand Association, and considerable work was also 

 done in arranging for the program itself. Colored lantern slides were shovsm 

 of various stands in the organization and shown at a meeting of the Boston 

 Market Gardeners Asso., as well as at other meetings. The points of greatest 

 value illustrated in these slides were stressed. 



Asparagus Inspection 



Several inspections were made of asparagus identified with the official state 

 label. These inspections were made mainly in the Faneuil Hall Market dis- 

 trict. This organization has since gone out of existence, due to competition 

 from other states. 



Statistics 



The amounts and sources of food stuffs received at Boston as recorded by 

 various agencies were tabulated for office reference and in preparation for 

 later publication. As demanded, other crop, market and price statistical in- 

 formation was assembled. 



Retail Market News 



The Boston Retail Report was issued regularly each week with the custom- 

 ary lead paragraph directing attention to seasonal products in plentiful sup- 

 ply. Weekly retail price data was also collected in Worcester and Springfield. 



Fresh Food Facts presented consumer market information in popular style 

 each week, particularly for publication in town weekly papers. Supplementary 

 news articles were written for newspapers and magazines. 



Other Consumer Service 



Marketing talks were broadcast weekly over station WAAB and occasional 

 addresses given over other stations, WBZ, WEEI, WNAC, The division worked 

 closely v?ith the consumer councils sponsored by the federal government. 



