24 P.D. 123 



the city of Boston on the day they are printed. Several suggestions for im- 

 provement were suggested, and as far as possible they have been adopted. 



The Worcester and Springfield market reports have excellent circulation by 

 newspaper and over the radio. 



Worcester Market Report 



The regular detailed report covering wholesale prices of native and 

 shipped-in vegetables and fruits and including daily quotations on nearby eggs 

 has been issued daily except Saturday. Information contained in these reports 

 was gathered from local commission houses and from the farmers' market. 

 Reports were mailed to various departments at the Massachusetts State Col- 

 lege, to neighboring State Agricultural Departments, and to the U. S. Agri- 

 cultural Marketing Service in Washington. The reports also were published 

 in the Worcester Telegram, a morning paper, and in the Worcester Evening 

 Gazette. In addition the reports were broadcast each day from Station WTAG 

 at approximately 12:25 p.m. Each Saturday, instead of a market report, a 

 summary of the week's activities on the produce market was issued and broad- 

 cast, along with any bits of agricultural or market news which might be of 

 local interest. 



A daily record has been kept of receipts of native produce arriving for sale 

 at the farmers' market. The number of farm trucks using this market in 

 1939 averaged 41 per day, as compared with an average of 34 in 1938. 



Special Apple Reports were issued, covering the apple market in detail, 

 during the local season, roughly from the middle of August to the middle of 

 March or early April. These were broadcast on the days issued. Cold 

 storage holdings of apples in Worcester were obtained from local cold storage 

 during the season. These figures were broadcast when obtained, and also 

 included on the printed market reports for local publication. 



Carlot receipts of fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products have 

 been obtained daily from the railroads and included on the daily market reports 

 as a matter of record. Monthly and annual summaries of these receipts have 

 been mimeographed. 



Springfield Market Report 



Wholesale market reports, covering wholesale prices of fruits and vegetables 

 sold in this market, were tabulated and issued daily. This information was 

 obtained from producers, wholesalers, buyers, commission dealers and jobbers, 

 and covered sales on carlot and less than carlot receipts of both local and 

 shipped-in products. 



The local Farmers' Market was canvassed daily and prevailing prices re- 

 ceived from the growers. This information and the general trend of the 

 market were transmitted to the producers, so that a more nearly normal price 

 range prevailed, as growers realized in a short time just what the situation 

 was, and whether or not they were in line with the market. This was done 

 without mentioning names, but by giving the price range as requested on any 

 given commodity. The market period was from about 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 

 with trading completed during these hours. 



The Farmers' Market enjoyed a good season for the Association, and also 

 for the growers. Prices held within a satisfactory range over an extended 

 period on a great many commodities off"ered. The dry weather did not affect 

 the crops materially, and in a great many cases it was necessary to transplant, 

 but favorable receipts were offered nearly every day. 



The central location of the Springfield Market makes it a terminal receiving 

 and shipping section. Dealers make daily trips into the northern valley sec- 

 tion, with coverage extending as far north as Keene and Brattleboro; westerly 

 coverage extends to Pittsfield and Albany; easterly through the Brookfields 

 and Ware section; and southerly to the New York Market. 



Wholesale reports were issued through the local newspapers and radio 

 stations, also on the early morning broadcasts from WBZ, Boston, twice a 

 week. Newspaper dissemination was through the early editions, which 



