proportion of the Maine potato imports move by train. The carlot ship- 

 ments for selected years is given in Table 3 : 



Table 3. Carload Shipments of Maine Potatoes to New Hampshire ^ 



1927-28 1929-30 1943-44 1945-46 1946-47 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50 



o 



57 465 513 440 286 229 2272 3923 



^Maine potatoes — U. S. Department of Agricullture and Maine Division of Markets. 



'104 carloads for feed. 



^269 carloads for feed. ~ 



Two factors must be considered in the interpretation of this table. 

 Government diversions for relief and dehydration began in 1943. By 1946 

 government procurement for livestock feed had commenced, thus reducing 

 the proportion of table stock in the rail movement. 



The second factor is the increased use of trucks replacing rail ship- 

 ments to the New England markets. For example, in 1944-46 there were 

 1400 carlot equivalents shipped from Maine to all markets by truck. By 

 1948-49 there were 4122 carlot equivalents shipped by truck, while ship- 

 ments in 1949-50 amounted to 6200 carlot equivalents. 



The imports from Canada to 100 cities in the United States, by rail 

 and boat, was 6731 carlot equivalents in 1949. Of this amount 362 car- 

 lots were shipped to Boston, as compared with 2688 carlots from Maine. 

 Other Canadian shipments were made by truck and rail to small cities. No 

 estimate is available of the amount which found its way into New Hamp- 

 shire markets. Many wholesalers handle Prince Edward Island potatoes tu 

 add variety to their trade offerings. These potatoes are sold at a premium 

 in many stores. 



On the basis of interviews with retailers. Map No. 4 delineates those 

 areas supplied predominantly by out-of-state potatoes and those by local 

 supplies. The wholesalers handle those potatoes which will satisfy their 

 customers as to grade and quality and give them the greatest return over 

 cost. Unit costs can be minimized by bulk purchases, and preference is fre- 

 quently given by wholesalers to that type of supply. This eliminates the in- 

 dependent small grower and forces him to deal directly with consumers or 

 retailers. See page 12 for Map 4. 



Of 172 retailers interviewed, 86 received supplies exclusively from whole- 

 salers and 10 from producers only. The remainder handled supplies from 

 both sources. The reasons given by retailers for their preference of whole- 

 sale supplies were: (1) convenience of regular delivery, (2) lack of storage 

 space'*, and (3) past selling difficulties with local supplies. The complaints 

 against local supplies heard most frequently were: (1) poorly packed and 

 graded, (2) quality variation within packs, and (3) prices too high. When 

 a.sked whether or not they would anticipate greater sales with lower prices, 

 81 retailers said yes and 57 said no. 



An undoubted preference by customers for New Hampshire potatoes was 

 expressed by northern and western retailers. Their availability appeared to 

 be a controlling influence on preference in the east central areas of the state 

 which are predominately vacation towns and depend upon wholesalers for 

 supplies irrespective of variety or source. 



*Four only out of 172 had adequate potato storage space. 



9 



