P.D. 123 11 



report and other market reports figured prominently in food cost and budget studies 

 worked on cooperatively with agencies such as the State Division of Aid to Dependent 

 Children and the Leominster Welfare Commissary. 



Consumer Information 



The kinds of food market information prepared for consumers and the ways of dis- 

 seminating it are varied. The information includes radio broadcasts, market reports, 

 exhibits, and talks to groups. Besides the retail price report, a weekly news release 

 "Fresh Food Facts" presents market information in popular style. Both these publica- 

 tions, distributed by mail, are used by individual homemakers, welfare and social 

 agencies, dietitians, schools, commercial organizations, retailers, including farm road- 

 side stand operators, newspapers and radio stations. Newspaper and radio programs 

 give the publications extended publicity. Deserving of special mention was the effect- 

 ive cooperation from home page editors and radio women in the apple use emergency 

 following the hurricane. 



Numerous special consumer broadcasts were given through the year, chiefly on the 

 New England Radio News Service programs over the Colonial network. Arrange- 

 ments were made and script prepared for the week of daily broadcasts from a local 

 station in connection with the intensive Mcintosh apple drive in Fall River. 



Food and marketing exhibits, usually featuring apples and eggs, were arranged for 

 such as the Family Information Center of Jordan Marsh Co., Massachusetts State 

 Federation of Women's Clubs, Home Economics Association, and the Union Agricul- 

 tural Meeting. 



Among groups addressed on the subject of marketing, particularly as it pertains to 

 consumers and consumer demand, were granges, women's clubs, school lunch room 

 managers, meeting of meat packers, wholesalers and retailers, home economic student 

 and graduate student classes. 



Further consumer information was given out through articles written for farm and 

 other publications, and by the distribution of recipes and marketing calendars. A fruit 

 and vegetable selection guide was prepared especially for consumers and large buyers. 

 Assistance was given in outlining consumer education courses being introduced into 

 curricula of schools and colleges. 



While the immediate aim of this work is toward better and more intelligent buying 

 by consumers, its application tends to synchronize demand with supply and stabilize 

 prices, thus promoting greater efficiency in the whole scheme of production and dis- 

 tribution. 



Apple Inspection 



In addition to the regular apple inspection work carried on in principal markets and 

 at country points, the division was called upon to do emergency inspection work on the 

 salvaging of wind-blown apples caused by the hurricane of September 21. In order 

 that a substantial part of this fruit could be saved, the Federal Surplus Commodities 

 Corporation set up purchasing offices in Massachusetts to buy wind-blown fruit and 

 ship it to welfare centers. 



Because of the fact that all F.S.C.C. purchases must be certified as to grade, it was 

 necessary for this Division to employ twelve emergency part-time inspectors to assist 

 in this work. This inspection was done under the joint federal-state agreement, which 

 has been in operation for a number of years. All of this work was done at no expense 

 to the Commonwealth. While we hired and paid the inspectors, we were reimbursed in 

 full by the Federal Government. Apples purchased by the F.S.C.C. in Massachusetts 

 totalled about 325,000 bushels, a major part of which were shipped to distant welfare 

 points, many in the southern states, well out of the ordinary channels of distribution 

 of our fruit. 



Regular apple inspection was carried on in the Boston, Springfield, and Worcester 

 markets, and at important country points. Shipping point inspection was in operation 

 throughout the season, with the greatest amount of work occurring during the export 

 season on early apples. 



Market News 

 Market Reports were issued regularly from the Boston, Springfield, and Worcester 

 offices. Apple reports were issued during nine months of the marketing season. Full 

 use of the radio has been made in distributing market report information. Radio is 

 becoming an increasingly important medium of disseminating market news, with less 

 and less dependence being placed on mail distribution. 



