DIVISION OF MARKETS 



John J. Fitzgerald, Director 



The Division of Markets functions as a regulatory and a marketing agency 

 in the Department of Food and Agriculture. 



The Promotional and Information Section , supervised by Assistant Director 

 Guy L. Paris, is involved in various activities such as commodity promotions, 

 which are conducted with the cooperation of commodity groups. 



In fiscal year 1982, promotional funds which were shared equally with 

 commodity groups were eliminated from the budget. Many of the programs which 

 were administered during the past ten years ceased. 



It is now promising that fiscal year 1983 will bring new funds and the 

 commodity promotional programs will resume. 



With limited funds, the Division continued and expanded the "Massachusetts 

 Grown and Fresher" trademark program. Many retail outlets used this logo in 

 their weekly newspaper ads. Massachusetts agricultural products are also 

 promoted through the publication of pamphlets listing local "Pick-your-Own" 

 vegetables, strawberries, blueberries, apples and other fruits, "Cut-your-Own" 

 Christmas trees, fresh Massachusetts turkeys, and locations of Farmers and 

 Gardeners markets. 



This section has been very active this year in developing sales contacts 

 for large food market product buyers. 



It also cooperates with U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News Service 

 in collecting, publishing and distributing by telephone, mail, radio and newspapers 

 timely information on market prices, supplies, and demand of fresh fruit and 

 vegetables at the Boston Market and at the Springfield Market. 



Prices and other information related to marketing of ornamental crops at the 

 Boston Flower Exchange are compiled and published in the same manner as those of 

 fresh fruits and vegetables. 



It is through these reports that growers, retailers and shippers are informed 

 of marketing conditions and prices. 



Other marketing information released by this section includes weekly 

 Special Apple Reports and a weekly Food Buyers Guide. 



Milk flavoring program provides an organoleptic evaluation service for the 

 milk industry with the objective of guaranteeing consumer satisfaction with the 

 flavor quality of milk they purchase. Samples taken from milk plants and milk 

 producers range from 5 to 250 per examination with the average monthly total 

 including 50 finished products, 90 blended tank shipment and 755 farm samples. 



The budget appropriated for the Division for fiscal year 1982 was 

 $295,100.00. 



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