Marketing New Hampshire Potatoes 



By J. R. BowRiNG 

 Associate Agricultural Economist 



INTRODUCTION 



This bulletin attempts to bring up to date trends in the production and 

 marketing of New Hampshire potatoes. We hope that the information in 

 it will help to make producers and administrators more aware of the prob- 

 lems they are now facing and will confront in the future. 



REVIEW OF LITERATURE 



Previous studies in New Hampshire ^ have surveyed the problems facing 

 producers and recommendations have been made accordingly. Woodworth, 

 et al, showed the large imports into New Hampshire markets from Maine 

 and Boston and indicated that the price advantage in local markets was an 

 inducement for an expanded acreage and income from potatoes by New 

 Hampshire producers. In 1931, Rinear indicated that the majority of con- 

 sumers either preferred New Hampshire potatoes or had no choice as to 

 their source, provided that their quality and size were satisfactory. This 

 indication was a further challenge to New Hampshire producers to take ad- 

 vantage of the market opportunities. In 1933, Rinear and Abell showed 

 that freight rates were favorable to the New Hampshire producers for in- 

 creased sales in southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Local prices 

 were consistently higher than Boston prices but handlers had the following 

 criticisms, some of which, a recent survey discloses, still exist: 



1. Local growers are not a steady source of supply; middlemen 

 find it more profitable to purchase from sources olloring even 

 supplies. 



2. The price of local potatoes is too high in comparison with 

 supplies from Maine. 



3. Local growers frequently sell at the same price to wholesalers 

 and retailers in the same town. 



4. Packages are not uniform as to shape and weight. 



5. Standard grades are not always complied with. 



Numerous studies on consumer preferences and marketing practices 

 have been made throughout the United States. ^ They emphasize the in- 



^H. C. Woodworth, et el. Can New Hampshire Produce More of What She Eats? (N. H. Agricutlural 

 Experiment Station Bulletin 222, June 1946), p. 12 



E. H. Rinear, Consumer Preference for Potatoes (N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station Circular 37, 

 June 1931) 



M. F. Abell and E. H. Rinear, Marketing Potatoes in New Hampshire (N. H. Agricultural Station 

 Circular 42, June 1933) 



^The following is a selection from available publications: 



a. F. E. Scott, et el. Problems in Marketing Potatoes (U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of 

 Agricultural Economics, July 1949) 



b. Potato Preferences Among Household Consumers (U. S. Department of Agriculture. Misc. Publi- 

 cation 667) 



c. Rose and Cook, Handling, Storage, Transportation, and Utilization of Potatoes (U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture Bibliographical Bulletin 11, 1949) 



d. Potatoes in Hotels and Restaurants (U. S. Department of Agriculture, AIS 81, 1949) 



e. New Hampshire Potato Branding Law (N. H. Bureau of Markets, Concord, N. H., July 1, 1949) 



