BUREAU OF MARKETS 

 Guy L. Paris, Chief 



The major function of the Bureau 1s to develop marketing outlets for 

 Massachusetts agricultural products. 



Each week over 1000 truck! oads of fresh meat, vegetables and fruits are 

 Imported Into Massachusetts from other states and countries. In total, all 

 "Imported foods" result in $3.4 billion leaving the state each year. Many more 

 of these dollars could be circulated to the local economy, and our objective Is 

 to Increase cash receipts of Massachusetts agricultural products. 



The various activities of the Bureau are all related to the overall goal of 

 increasing farm production and sales in the state and a summary for Fiscal Year 

 1983 follows. 



PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM 



Many of the promotional events and activities are tied in with use of the 

 "Massachusetts Grown and Fresher" slogan. A logo with this tagline has helped 

 increase consumer awareness of our local farm products, and it is our intent to 

 make this label synonymous with quality. 



Governor Edward J. King proclaimed the month of August 1982, as "Massa- 

 chusetts Grown and Fresher Month." The unveiling of the promotional program 

 took place at a barbecue and lamb roast which followed the Produce Buyers Tour, 

 sponsored by the New England Vegetable Growers Association and the Bureau of Markets. 

 The tour gave produce buyers an opportunity to view on the ground level how the 

 Massachusetts Vegetable Growers are producing a wide variety of excellent com- 

 mercial crops. 



Some 4000 "August is Vegetable Month" pins were distributed to produce 

 departments of large and small retail food markets; 800 23" x 30" posters were 

 also distributed in the same manner. The Bureau assisted the Massachusetts 

 Flower Growers with their Buyers Conference and Seminar and their Thanksgiving 

 and Christmas radio commercials. The Massachusetts Flower Growers tagged over a 

 half million potted plants with the "Massachusetts Grown and Fresher" logo tags. 



The apple growers of the state spent $14,573 in newspaper advertising pro- 

 moting Massachusetts apples and cider. The Bureau assisted the apple growers 

 with their promotional programs. 



The Massachusetts Poultry Association received from the Bureau of Markets 

 the sum of $2,740 for the promotion of Massachusetts brown eggs and fresh 

 turkeys; the total cost of their promotional programs amounted to $10,800 which 

 was shared by the producers. 



Appropriation for fiscal 1983 was $50,000 for the promotion of Massachu- 

 setts agriculture; $30,000 was allotted to commodity groups on a cost sharing 

 program, each commodity promoting and advertising their product. 



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